Nicky Hayden
Nicky Hayden, nicknamed 'The Kentucky Kid,' won the MotoGP world championship for Honda in 2006 in one of the closest title fights the sport has seen, coming from a genuine American racing family and remaining one of the paddock's most universally well-liked figures throughout his career, before his death in 2017 following a cycling accident.
Nicky Hayden grew up in a genuine American motorcycle racing family in Kentucky, with his father and several siblings all competing professionally, before rising through American racing and eventually reaching MotoGP with Honda, where he won the 2006 world championship in one of the closest and most celebrated title fights the sport has seen, ultimately prevailing over Valentino Rossi.
Throughout his career, Hayden built a reputation, consistently remarked upon by fellow riders, journalists, and fans, as one of the most genuinely well-liked and humble figures in the paddock — a level of universal goodwill that stood out even in a sport that regularly produces popular champions.
After his MotoGP career wound down, Hayden continued competing at a high level in World Superbike racing. He died in May 2017 at age 35, after being struck by a car while cycling near Rimini, Italy, a loss mourned throughout the entire motorsport community.
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Hayden's title, won for Honda, came down to the final race of the season against Valentino Rossi, a genuinely tight, dramatic championship fight that stood out even in a sport regularly built around close competition, and remains one of the more celebrated title deciders in MotoGP history.
Hayden grew up in a racing family — his father raced, and several of his siblings also competed professionally, including his brothers Tommy and Roger Lee Hayden, giving him an unusually deep, family-wide grounding in motorcycle racing from childhood, distinctive even by the standards of a sport where family racing backgrounds are common.
Across a career competing against and alongside some of the sport's biggest personalities, Hayden built a reputation for warmth, humility, and approachability that was remarked upon consistently by rivals, journalists, and fans alike — a level of universal goodwill that is genuinely rare in any top-level professional sport.
After his time in MotoGP, Hayden continued competing at a high level in World Superbike racing, remaining a serious, competitive presence in motorcycle racing well after his premier-class Grand Prix career had concluded.
Hayden was struck by a car while cycling near Rimini, Italy, in May 2017, sustaining injuries that proved fatal days later. He was 35 years old. His death was mourned widely across the entire motorsport community, a reflection of how genuinely well regarded he had been throughout his career, both for his racing achievements and his character.