Gardner: Hayden will struggle at Ducati

Hayden, who took the 2006 world title for the Repsol Honda squad, is leaving the Japanese manufacturer after a nine-year association that stretches back through MotoGP and AMA Superbikes to join Ducati.

But Gardner, who won motorcycling's premier championship in 1987, also with Honda, believes that the American, who has failed to win a race since claiming the title, will find it hard to re-discover his championship-winning form.

"Knowing the kind of bike the Ducati is, and knowing where Nicky came from on dirt bikes and Superbikes, I just think it's going to be very difficult for him to adapt," Gardner told Eurosport.

"I think he will struggle on that bike. Casey [Stoner] is used to the traction control system on the bike and knows how to ride with it.

"It's gonna be hard to find the limits on the Ducati because of all the traction control," he added. "Look at Casey and he just pins it. If I'd done that on a 500, I'd have been upside down in the grandstand. You need youth to do that. Casey has that."

Hayden will have his first outing on a Ducati at Valencia on Monday.