Nicky Hayden, The former American MotoGP champion has died at the age of 35, five days after being involved in a crash while cycling in Italy on Wednesday, 17th May.
The Kentucky born racer competed in the World Super Bike Championship in Italy which was held on the 14th and was involved in the collision three days after the said race. Having taken up MotoGP racing in 2003 Hayden’s crowning glory came in 2006 when he won the MotoGP championship, ending Valentino Rossi’s five year winning streak to become winner after an eventful, dramatic race in Valencia.
Raised in a biking family in Kentucky, Hayden earned the name ‘Kentucky Kid’ as he along with his brothers, who were also professional racers, trained at their backyard dirt track. Father Earl Hayden had been a dirt bike racer for more than 20 years while his mom Rose and two sisters also competed in bike events.
Nick Hayden was a huge underdog to win the title in 2006 going into the final race in Valencia as he was 8 points behind Valentino Rossi who at that point had won 05 back to back championships. The Italian champion slid out on the fifth lap and eventually finished fifth while Hayden who had a superb run finished third and clinched the title as one of the best underdog victories in the history and remains the last American rider to win a premier class of motorcycle road racing.
Known as one of the nicest blokes on the track Hayden is mourned by the entire racing fraternity with racing riders around the world taking to the social media to express their shock at Hayden’s sudden passing.
World champion Marc Marquez was shattered to hear of Hayden’s loss
Former MotorGP Champion Casey Stoner
Former Sri Lankan motor cross champion Gayan Sandaruwan had also taken to social media to grieve Hayden’s loss.
