Nicky Hayden

Rider: Nicky Hayden
Nickname: Nick the Quick, or the Kentucky Kid
Nationality: American
Team: Ducati Marlboro
Machine: Desmosedici GP9 (#69)
Born: July 30, 1981 in Owensboro, Kentucky

Don't think for a minute that this good natured, always smiling kid from Kentucky doesn't have the heart of a winner. Both of Nicky's parents were involved in dirt track racing before he was born. Earl, Nicky's father, built dirt tracks for his five children to learn how to race bike while living in the countryside of Kentucky. With Nicky's two brothers currently racing in the AMA Superbike Championship and his own success in AMA and World Superbike, his father's dream has been made a reality.

Hayden began his sporting career with dirt track racing, beginning at four years old at the Paducah International Raceway. From that moment on, he competed regularly in the category and spent nearly every weekend travelling to tracks all over the American Midwest with his family.
Although over time his passion transferred itself more towards road racing, Nicky and his brothers have always remained interested in dirt track, a world in which they all obtained great results. A highlight was the historic Springfield TT in 2002, where having all qualified on the front row, all three brothers stepped up to the podium! Nicky, Tommy and Roger Lee finished the race in that order, something that had never happened before in a professional AMA Dirt Track race. At that time Nicky was already one of the most talented riders in the AMA Superbike championship and was in contention for the title, a title that he won just a few months later.

After three seasons in MotoGP, Nicky picked up his first career win at the USGP at Laguna Seca. In front of his hometown fans Nicky dominated, led every lap and won the hearts of many a GP fan across the globe. For 2006 the Kentucky Kid did one better, he claimed the checkers at Laguna again, but also netted the MotoGP title. To earn the championship, Hayden exhibited consistency and determination, overcoming a devastating DNF at Estoril, courtesy of his Repsol Honda teammate, Dani Pedrosa.

In 2007 the GP category moved from 990cc to 800cc machines and Hayden was not immediately comfortable with the new 800cc V-4 RC212V at his command. He also had a two-year contract with the factory Honda team, but Nick the Quick was under the gun to deliver another title and couldn't deliver.Despite great efforts to develop the RC212V, he was never able to truly fight to defend his title. The work completed during the year allowed him to reach the podium in Germany, Holland and the Czech Republic but he was only able to finish the season in eighth position.

2008 was another year of mixed fortunes for Hayden, especially at the start of the season when, despite several top five finishes, he failed to reach the podium. An injury to his foot, caused while he participated in a Supermoto race at the X-Games in Los Angeles, complicated things and forced him to miss the Czech Republic and San Marino GP races after the summer break. However, always ready to fight harder when the going gets tough, the American rider was back on form at the second of his home rounds, at Indianapolis, where in difficult meteorological conditions and in less than perfect health, he finished second behind Valentino Rossi. Another podium at Phillip Island and a series of strong results towards the end of the season allowed him to climb the leaders board to finish the year in sixth position.

Career Highlights:
2008 - 6th MotoGP (Honda)
2007 - 8th MotoGP (Honda)
2006 - 1st MotoGP (Honda)
2005 - 3rd MotoGP (Honda)
2004 - 8th MotoGP (Honda)
2003 - 5th MotoGP (Honda)
2003 - MotoGP Rookie of the Year
2002 - 1st AMA Superbike (Honda)
2002 - 1st Daytona 200 (Honda)
2001 - 3rd AMA Superbike (Honda)
2000 - 2nd AMA Superbike (Honda)
2000 - 4th AMA 600 Supersport (Honda)
1999 - 1st AMA 600 Supersport (Honda)
1999 - 2nd AMA Formula Xtreme (Honda)
1999 - AMA Grand National Dirt Track Rookie of the Year
1999 - AMA/Speedvision Pro Athlete of the Year
1998 - 4th AMA 600 SuperSport (Honda)
1998 - 4th AMA 750 SuperSport (Honda)