Melandri ready to step aside

The Italian has had a torrid season at the Italian manufacturer, failing to get to grips with the GP8 bike and being totally overshadowed by teammate Casey Stoner.

And after conceding that his situation is unlikely to improve dramatically for the rest of the year, he has admitted for the first time that it may not be in his or the team's best interests to carry on.

"My style is the opposite of what this bike requires. I feel like I'm on the wet even when it's dry," Melandri said in an interview with Gazzetta dello Sport. "I don't know (if my future is with Ducati). My contract runs for two years and relations are good.

"I think we have to find the most logical road for both of us. If things go badly for too long, it's not in their interests or in mine."

Melandri had hoped the switch to a factory team would give him his best chance of winning the world title, but instead he has failed to find the form that helped him to a series of wins on customer Hondas.

However, despite his current difficulties, he is not upset about his decision to join Ducati.

"I have nothing to regret," he said. "If someone can do better than me, I'm ready to accept it. But the numbers are on my side: I think Pedrosa has won six races in three years with a factory bike, while I've won five in two years with a customer bike. Who is in this business knows I can't just have gone bonkers."

Melandri is convinced that he still has what it takes to win at the top level of motorcycle racing - but denied he was considering a switch to super bikes.

"No. If I have to race just for the hell of it, then I'll change life. But I'm convinced I can do well. At 36, (Carlos) Checa has gone back to winning ways. I'm only 25. I want to race and to win, especially after a season like this."