REIGNING 250cc World Champion Marco Simoncelli has spoken about his current contract dealings over the move from the quarter-litre class to the MotoGP championship.
The Italian has been widely linked by the gossip grapevine to Honda in 2010, but after what the rider himself said yesterday, it sounds like that's pretty wide of the mark.
Simoncelli said: "I have not signed with Honda. I have spoken with Gresini, but I have still not seen or spoken to any Japanese people from Honda."
Simoncelli is known to have been offered a ride on the Tech 3 Yamaha for next year, which sounds like it would be a preferred option for the afro-wearing hard charger.
He added: "My choice will be between Yamaha in the first instance then Honda but I do not have anything in hand for being able to close a negotiation."
But the rumours that Simoncelli was close to a Ducati deal have been blown out of the water, Simoncelli said:
"Ducati have tried to sign me but I think that although the bike is very fast, to get the most out of it you need to be a rider with a lot of experience and that is something I do not have on the larger machines yet."
So, whilst some are claiming that Simoncelli will have a deal done by Assen, the rider himself says it's unlikely, adding: "I will decide for sure before the Misano race in September, I do not think I will be in a position to make a decision by Assen."
