- C​redit: Autosport.

Nicky Hayden – A Personal Tribute To The “Kentucky Kid”.

A​mong many of my personal heroes from the world of motorsport, Nicholas Patrick Hayden is one that stands out for many reasons. This is my tribute to the one and only "Kentucky Kid."

Four years ago yesterday, the motorcycling world suffered one of its most bitter and tragic losses when Nicky Hayden tragically lost his life in a cycling accident in Italy. He was cruelly snatched from this world at the far too premature age of just 35 years old. And yet Hayden would go on to forge a legacy and produce an impact that very few can match, or ever even begin to dream of. This is my personal tribute to one of my greatest motorcycling icons and influences; the one and the only “Kentucky Kid”, Nicky Hayden.

For the beginning of the 2003 MotoGP season, a young, 22-year-old Hayden was signed to the Repsol Honda team to partner dominant, and reigning world champion Valentino Rossi. Many tipped this fresh-faced youngster for big things, given that he was coming off an AMA Superbike Championship winning season, but very few could have even remotely predicted the impact and legacy that this rookie from Owensboro, Kentucky would go on to have on the world of MotoGP forevermore. Hayden’s achievements stand on their own merits, including winning Rookie of The Year in his debut season. Whilst 2004 would be tough for Hayden, who finished 8th in the overall rankings, 2005 brought him far better fortunes, including his maiden championship win (at Laguna Seca of all places!), and a fantastic 3rd placed finish in the overall rankings.

H​ayden would enter MotoGP partnering the legendary Valentino Rossi at Repsol Honda. The two would go on to establish an extremely close friendship and lasting bond. (Credit: MotoGP).

H​ayden would enter MotoGP partnering the legendary Valentino Rossi at Repsol Honda. The two would go on to establish an extremely close friendship and lasting bond. (Credit: MotoGP).

2006 would provide some of the greatest moments in MotoGP history, and one of the most surprising championship winners. Valentino Rossi was predicted to rout the competition en-route to another easy championship; alas, this was not to be the case. Despite only winning 2 races to Rossi’s 5, Nicky proved the power and importance of consistency. Rossi’s Yamaha M1 was plagued with mechanical issues from the beginning of the 2006 season, thus allowing Hayden to score more podiums. Despite being a strong Valentino fan myself, you will be extremely hard pressed to find any MotoGP fan who was not utterly delighted with Nicky reaching the pinnacle of two-wheeled motorsport.

N​icky Hayden would go on to reach the pinnacle of Motorsport - MotoGP World Champion in 2006. (Credit: IBTimes India).

N​icky Hayden would go on to reach the pinnacle of Motorsport - MotoGP World Champion in 2006. (Credit: IBTimes India).

Nicky’s career in Grand Prix would proceed with mixed fortunes for the next 8 years, five of which were for the Factory Ducati team. Nicky looked steady and assured as always, but was sadly never quite able to emulate the success of the early years of his career with Repsol Honda.

Tragically, Nicky was taken from us far too soon on May 22nd, 2017, following a collision with a car whilst out cycling. Nicky displayed the sheer heart and courage for which he was best known and most revered by continuing to fight for 5 days in intensive care in an Italian hospital, but sadly the damage was too severe. Nicky was in the middle of a career resurgence in the World Superbike Championship with the Red Bull Honda team, finishing fifth in his debut season. One only knows what Nicky could have and most likely would have achieved had fate not been such a cruel mistress that day.

There are many, many reasons why I hold Nicky Hayden in such high and special regard. Truthfully, I could spend an entire podcast episode or multiple articles explaining such reasons in deeply intrinsic detail. Not only was he an unbelievably gifted and talented motorcycle racer, but he defied many people’s odds to reach the mountain top of our sport and cement his legacy amongst the greats forevermore.

However, the biggest reason I love Nicky Hayden to the extent that I do is actually rather simple; Nicky Hayden lived, breathed and existed for motorcycle racing. Everybody knows of the legendary Hayden clan, including patriarch Earl, as well as Nicky’s brothers Tommy and Roger Lee, who are both fantastic motorcycle riders in their own right. In many ways, I truly believe that Nicky Hayden’s heart was a screaming, four-cylinder beast, and that his veins and arteries were the fuel lines pumping the adrenaline and passion for motorcycle racing throughout his being. This is why I love Nicky Hayden – He carried the mantle of American Grand Prix royalty with immense pride, and that trademark beaming smile forever donning his face. Nicky was universally loved because his passion, his respect and his appreciation for his career endeared him permanently and indelibly to every fan of our sport, irrespective of allegiance. He was universally adored and revered by every person in the paddock and forged incredibly strong friendships with many of those people, including a particularly strong bond with Valentino Rossi. Hayden’s 2006 title win is actually my very earliest memory of first enjoying our beautiful sport: the beaming, blistering sun of Valencia. That incredibly moving, passionate lap around the grid upon realising his dream. The celebrations with his family. The realisation that he was forever immortalised not just as a MotoGP champion, but as a champion of the people, immortally and indelibly placed in a specially reserved place in the heart of millions and millions of the masses, myself included.

N​icky Hayden was universally loved and revered for his sense of humour, his permanent smile and his glowing passion for the sport - just a few of the many things that made me an immediate fan of Nicky Hayden. (Credit: MotoGP)

N​icky Hayden was universally loved and revered for his sense of humour, his permanent smile and his glowing passion for the sport - just a few of the many things that made me an immediate fan of Nicky Hayden. (Credit: MotoGP)

Nicholas Patrick Hayden, you were robbed from us far before your time, but however brief your spark was present, it burned far brighter and far hotter than many can ever hope of. Ride on Kentucky Kid – we miss you, and we will certainly never forget you.

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Comments (2)

  • Great tribute. Among the things that always endeared me to Nicky Hayden was that he just seemed like such a fundamentally nice guy; something echoed by everyone who ever knew him in person. It was also a joy to watch the grace - and absolute control - with which he could slide his Honda like he was on a Kentucky dirt-track oval. I've been sad upon hearing of the death of some celebrities, but the news about Nicky it hit me like a gut punch. It seemed so wrong that such a two-wheel talent could be killed in a stupid bicycle crash.

      7 months ago
    • I totally agree with every word you’ve just said David, and I hope that my article reflected that. Hearing the news about Nicky’s death in 2017 just hit completely different to any other.

        7 months ago
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