“Kentucky Kid” Nicky Hayden began his career on dirt before switching to tarmac, winning the AMA Supersport Championship onboard a privateer Honda in 1999. In 2002, he won the AMA Superbike title, the youngest rider ever to do so, and moved up to the MotoGP™ World Championship in 2003, also riding a Honda. Hayden then became the most recent MotoGP™ World Champion from the USA after beating Valentino Rossi to the title in 2006, with the fight going down to the final round in Valencia. He then moved to Ducati in 2009 to partner Casey Stoner, finding the first year a challenge, before making a vast improvement in 2010 to end the season 7th. The Kentucky rider moved back aboard a Honda for the 2014 season, riding the Open specification RCV1000R with Drive M7 Aspar. Major injury problems with his wrist seriously affected the season, resulting in surgery to fix the problem and get back on track for 2015. Named a MotoGP™ legend the same year, the American’s 13th and final season in MotoGP™ was a challenging one ahead of his move to the WorldSBK paddock in 2016. Already a podium finisher multiple times in World Superbike and taking his first win in Sepang in his rookie season, the legendary American returned to MotoGP™ at the Aragon GP to sub for Jack Miller at Estrella Galicia 0,0 Marc VDS, as the Australian recovered from a hand injury. After scoring points in Aragon, Hayden was back once again at Phillip Island - replacing injured former Repsol Honda teammate Dani Pedrosa in the same team. Hayden then tragically lost his life in a cycling accident after the 2017 Italian Round of WorldSBK, when he was training on the Rimini coast. Hayden was a true Champion, for his achievements both on track and off.
Legend Stats
Videos
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From Stoner to M. Marquez: Ducati's six World Champions
The #93 will form a blockbuster line up with Pecco Bagnaia in 2025, and follows in the footsteps of some of the finest riders the sport has ever seen
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The tribute to Nicky Hayden in Misano
A memorial garden in honor of the late MotoGP ™ Legend opens near to the circuit in the Adriatico municipality
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Nicky Hayden's motorbikes on display at Mugello
MotoGP™ pays tribute to The Kentucky Kid at Mugello by displaying a selection of his motorcycles from MotoGP™ and WorldSBK
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Nicky Hayden's unpublished interview from 2016
The interview from the 2006 MotoGP™ World Champion recorded at Laguna Seca
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#RideOnKentuckyKid: Remembering Nicky Hayden
Some of the best moments of the late MotoGP™ Legend's career
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Valencia 2006: Hayden's historic moment
Relive the battle for the 2006 MotoGP™ World Championship, which came down to a final-race shootout between Nicky Hayden and Valentino Rossi
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Hayden raring to go on return to Repsol Honda
Nicky Hayden joked he is just a "softie" and couldn't say no to the chance to ride once again for his former team Repsol Honda
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MotoGP™ VIDEOPASS
Nicky Hayden is back!
The Kentucky Kid makes a return to the MotoGP™ paddock, replacing an injured Jack Miller for the #AragonGP.
Legend Bio
All categories
MotoGP
Date of birth
30/07/1981
Place of birth
Owensboro
Legend Story
News
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Nicky Hayden inducted into Motorsports Hall of Fame
The late 2006 World Champion and MotoGP™ Legend is the 269th inductee into the Motorsports Hall of Fame of America
By motogp.com -
Revisiting the 2006 Estoril epic
A rollercoaster race that saw dreams come true for some, and crushed for others in one of the closest-ever MotoGP™ finishes
By motogp.com -
BT Sport remembers Hayden's title in Greatest Years finale
In what was BT Sport's final trip down memory lane, the team fondly remembered the late, great Nicky Hayden's incredible MotoGP™ title win
By motogp.com -
Remembering Nicky: “I always believed I'd be World Champion”
This weeks' MotoGP™ Podcast is a special feature on the late, great 2006 World Champion – Nicky Hayden
By motogp.com -
The Kentucky Kid: a career in pictures
Take a look at the greatest pictures of 2006 World Champion and MotoGP™ Legend – the late, great Nicky Hayden
By motogp.com -
Number 69 to be retired at the Circuit of the Americas
In honour of Nicky Hayden, 69 is to be retired from premier class Grand Prix racing at Red Bull Grand Prix of the Americas
By motogp.com -
Nicky Hayden statue unveiled in Owensboro
The late, great Nicky Hayden remembered in his hometown ahead of 'Nicky Hayden Day' on 6/9
By motogp.com -
Imola pays tribute to Nicky Hayden
A new Mirco Lazzari photo exhibition opens at the Autodromo Internazionale Enza e Dino Ferrari di Imola
By motogp.com
Videos
-
From Stoner to M. Marquez: Ducati's six World Champions
The #93 will form a blockbuster line up with Pecco Bagnaia in 2025, and follows in the footsteps of some of the finest riders the sport has ever seen
-
The tribute to Nicky Hayden in Misano
A memorial garden in honor of the late MotoGP ™ Legend opens near to the circuit in the Adriatico municipality
-
Nicky Hayden's motorbikes on display at Mugello
MotoGP™ pays tribute to The Kentucky Kid at Mugello by displaying a selection of his motorcycles from MotoGP™ and WorldSBK
-
Nicky Hayden's unpublished interview from 2016
The interview from the 2006 MotoGP™ World Champion recorded at Laguna Seca
-
#RideOnKentuckyKid: Remembering Nicky Hayden
Some of the best moments of the late MotoGP™ Legend's career
-
Valencia 2006: Hayden's historic moment
Relive the battle for the 2006 MotoGP™ World Championship, which came down to a final-race shootout between Nicky Hayden and Valentino Rossi
-
Hayden raring to go on return to Repsol Honda
Nicky Hayden joked he is just a "softie" and couldn't say no to the chance to ride once again for his former team Repsol Honda
-
MotoGP™ VIDEOPASS
Nicky Hayden is back!
The Kentucky Kid makes a return to the MotoGP™ paddock, replacing an injured Jack Miller for the #AragonGP.