Cycle News is a weekly magazine that covers all aspects of motorcycling including Supercross, Motocross and MotoGP as well as new motorcycles
Issue link: https://magazine.cyclenews.com/i/1441959
ers and champions I have dealt with, repeatedly and closely, over more than three decades, Nicky was one of only two riders who ever showed any personal interest in me, and in why I was involved in racing. (The other, by the way, was Wayne Rainey, another natural American gentle- man, who also drew my atten- tion to the Hayden dynasty long before the three brothers had hit their full racing stride.) impression on MotoGP from the start—a credit to his upbringing and personality. Earl followed along, and became a paddock character immediately. His gruff voice would reel off strings of anecdotes that could leave you sometimes doubled up with laughter. Some were about racing, some about the colourful characters he'd met through his used car lot, 2nd Chance Autos, self-described as "a low-budget M any fond thoughts will be expressed, and many words written, in tribute to Earl Hayden, recently de- ceased after a long and gruelling battle with debilitating illness. Out of long-standing respect, I hope CN readers will indulge me if I add several more. Earl's death marks the end of an era that spanned not only different motorcycle racing disciplines but also different classes and P122 CN III IN THE PADDOCK BY MICHAEL SCOTT SQUEARL - THE END I never sought nor expected any such response. One reason I admire top racers is for their almost pathological ability to fo- cus only on themselves. Achiev- ing the drive and concentration required for a world champion- ship seldom leaves much over for social graces, and that's fine. But when they are present, it is all the more life-affirming. Nicky, with his warm and open nature and cheerful enjoy- ment of racing life made a good dealership – we do accept trade ins and buy junk cars." Few of those characters can have been as colorful as the man his racing progeny called "Squearl," as many of his other stories at- tested. They took him through his own racing career and the early days of Team Earl, often a shoe- string affair, but never less than focused and dedicated. The Hayden dynasty would leave a lasting impression. There continents, and achieved much success in all of them. My personal contact with the Hayden family was mainly with the late Nicky, during his grand prix years, and it almost goes without saying that the 2006 Mo- toGP champion was a credit to himself and his family throughout. Seeking personal validation from racing heroes was definitely not why I chose the role of grand prix journalist, but as an aside I can report that, of all the rid-