Dovizioso plays down works ride rumours

Doviziozo, a former 250cc race winner, impressed on his debut in the senior class, finishing fourth after coming out on top in a wheel-to-wheel dice with his hero Valentino Rossi at Qatar.

A loyal Honda man since he made his 125cc world championship debut in 2002, the Italian is seen as a rising star among the ranks of the Japanese manufacturer's rider roster. And speculation is growing that Honda is keen to support him with a works ride in 2009 as reward for his rides on uncompetitive Honda 250cc machinery over recent seasons, should Hayden choose to leave HRC.

Doviziozo's manager Simone Batistella told autosport.com that he had not been approached however and that there was no substance to the rumours.

"Nothing has been discussed at all," said Batiztella. "We haven't spoken to anyone about anything. Everything is as it was before the season started. We are just concentrating on every race doing the best that we can."

Hayden's current two-year contract with HRC runs out at the end of 2008.