P120
CN
III WHEELSPIN
BY KEITH DOWDLE
L
ast week it was announced
that Nicky Hayden would
be inducted in the Motor-
sports Hall of Fame of America,
adding to yet another exclusive
club for the late great MotoGP
World Champion. I was one
of the lucky people who had a
chance to know Nicky and work
with him throughout his career.
When he joined the Erion Honda
team in 1999, he was literally just
a kid. But he wasn't a kid with
an attitude, he was humble and
respectful to everyone on the
team and to those of us at Ameri-
can Honda. Back in those days,
all of the factories were fully
engaged in AMA Pro Road Rac-
ing, and I personally attended
lots of races to host customers
and VIPs through our customer
relations program, the Honda
Riders Club of America (HRCA).
Of course, Daytona was always
the first race of the year, and in
2000 Nicky made his debut with
the big boys in the 200.
Our staff and team hotel
back then was the La Quinta
at Interstate 95 and Speedway
Boulevard. Next door to that
hotel was a convenience store
that drew customers by offering
a dyno in their parking lot during
Bike Week. I'm sure it was fun
for everyone there on vacation,
but for those of us working, it
really sucked to hear bikes run-
ning at full RPM all through the
night. The night before the 200
was one of the loudest nights
NO
BIG
DEAL
Winner Mat Mladin
gives Daytona 200
rookie Nicky Hayden
a pat on the back
after their epic
battle in 2000.
