Hayden confirms split with Honda

The disaffected Kentucky rider, who has still to officially confirm his widely-reported switch to Ducati, said that he could not wait to begin the next chapter in his career after admitting that relations between himself and the HRC factory team had become strained in recent weeks.

"It's no secret - everyone knows where my next stop is going to be," he said. "I'm looking forward to it.

"It's going to be a big change for me, but there are five races to go this season and I've had a long history at Honda and sure things here have turned ugly lately, just with everything going on, but we've had good races together and won championships together.

"In AMA and the World Championship; that was the good one, but it's time to move on and try something different."

Hayden had previously been linked to a switch to Ducati for 2007, following protracted talks in 2006, but instead decided at the last minute to stay with Honda whilst battling for his world title.

Hayden was also scathing about the manner in which he was shut out of Honda's decision to switch his teammate Dani Pedrosa on to Bridgestone tyres for the rest of the year, adding that he had not been approached by the team on the subject.

"That's quite a touchy subject," he said. "I was quite shocked... I wasn't asked. I just heard it on the street. Just before the start of the race in Misano I was told and I couldn't believe it, like everyone else.

"I am not really sure what there is to say. It's one less rider on Michelin which I think hurts. It's close to it being a spec-tyre [series] now. There are only five guys left not on Bridgestones."

Asked whether he thought the tyre situation within the team would add to the current tension, Hayden replied: "It don't really change a whole lot other than the wall down the middle of the garage, but I mean honestly there was a bit of a wall there so not a lot's changed.

"I think it'll be a lot of drama. This MotoGP is never a dull day; there's always something going on."

Hayden, who sat next to Pedrosa during the conference, added that he had no plans to sit out the rest of the season in light of the recent developments, despite the fact that he is still recovering from a fractured heel bone.

"I do not have intention not to do the rest of the season," he said. "That seems crazy. That's what people thought after Misano but I owe it to Honda to go out and do it.

"The guys in my team know I'm not going to lay down until the very end after Valencia so no, I fully plan on doing the whole season... unless they lock the door on me I'm going in there and getting on the bike. It could happen, but there are probably people in that box that if I didn't show up probably would never notice... but I plan on going [on]!"