Photography by Gold & Goose
On the eve of his final race in the MotoGP World Championship at Valencia, 2006 World Champion Nicky Hayden was inducted into the MotoGP Hall of Fame in a ceremony hosted by Dorna Sports CEO Carmelo Ezpeleta.
The Kentucky Kid will leave the category after 216 Grand Prix appearances that included 28 podium places with three wins, seven race fastest laps and five pole positions. He joins an illustrious list of past heroes of the sport that includes Giacomo Agostini, Mick Doohan, Geoff Duke, Wayne Gardner, Mike Hailwood, Daijiro Kato, Eddie Lawson, Anton Mang, Angel Nieto, Wayne Rainey, Phil Read, Jim Redman, Kenny Roberts, Jarno Saarinen, Kevin Schwantz, Barry Sheene, Marco Simoncelli, Freddie Spencer, Casey Stoner, John Surtees and Carlo Ubbiali.
“It is really is a great honor to receive this,” Hayden said. “I do not take it lightly, I know there are people in this club with more illustrious careers and who have obviously won more than me, but regardless I got in there! I am very happy. I mean for 13 years it was eat, breathe and sleep MotoGP. It’s been an amazing ride. Of course these last two years have been tough, but I’ve enjoyed every minute of it, worked with some great teams and rode some great bikes.
“I’d just like to thank everybody who has supported me through it all, my teams and my family, I appreciate it all. Thanks also to Carmelo; I think MotoGP – as much as the last weeks have been a little negative – is in a great place. The sport is bigger and better than ever, the tracks are safer and the young talent keeps getting younger and faster. So the future is very bright.”
Carmelo Ezpeleta, CEO of Dorna Sports, added, “For all of us, it’s a great pleasure to give Nicky this award – this is not just because you’ve been Champion and you’re one of the riders with most starts in the premier class, but also for your behavior over all those years, your sportsmanship and your friendship. It’s a great pleasure to consider you one of our legends. Thank you for all you’ve done for the sport in all those years.”
