Ducati won't hurry contract talks

The Italian was been out-paced by Casey Stoner all season, and has been linked with a switch to Kawasaki or Suzuki.

Capirossi's manager Carlo Pernat said at the Sachsenring that the rider was "closing to moving than staying."

But Suppo told Italia1 television that if Capirossi could maintain the form that saw him take seventh on the grid in Germany, then Ducati would be happy to extend his contract.

"We are talking with Loris. It's clear that if he goes the way he's always gone and the way he's gone today we'd be more than happy to keep him," Suppo said.

"We still have time, we are in no hurry at all. It's still early. The market has moved early this year, but we are just midway through the season.

"We have four bikes on the track, we have a rider who has given a lot to Ducati and we are extremely happy if he feels good on our bike.

"There's time: we are in a good situation, aren't we?"

Capirossi suggested that he would await a decision about his future from Ducati before pursuing other options.

"My objective is to keep on racing," he told Italia1.

"I'm waiting a bit for Ducati, to figure out what they want to do with me. I have other offers, so I'll let you know as soon as possible."

Kawasaki announced this week that they had signed Suzuki's John Hopkins for next season, and Capirossi denied that this lessened his chance of joining the team.

"Absolutely not," he said. "One of Kawasaki's plans was to have him and me. But I have other offers so I'll have to evaluate them."

Ducati have already confirmed that championship leader Stoner will stay with them through 2008.