Cycle News

"He's my hero and I will run that number forever." – Justin Barcia I didn't get to spend a ton of time with Nicky, but I remember one specific day. We were both sponsored by Shimano and we went on a group bicycle ride together. I was probably 18 or 19, full of testosterone, and Nicky and I were up at the front just sprinting against each other, trying to win the group ride. It wasn't even a race, but between us that day, it was. I'll remember that day forever - to share a moment like that with Nicky meant everything to me. He probably never thought twice about it, but I'll never forget it. I don't have many heroes, but I have one - and that's Nicky. A World Champion. He was just incredible with everything he accomplished. As an American going over to Europe, I understand how hard that is. I've never competed in the World Championship series, but I've spent time over there and know how challenging it can be in a different country. For him to become a star over there and win a World Championship is absolutely incredible. Just last month, I had the opportunity to visit the Ducati factory in Italy, and they had one of Nicky's bikes there. I was able to sit on it, and it was really special just to have that opportunity. When he passed away, I wanted to honor him, so I started running a 69 butt patch on my pants, and that's something I've always continued to do. We shared similar sponsors like Alpinestars and Red Bull, so it's meaningful for me to run the 69 in his honor. I told all my sponsors I will never change that throughout my career - that's one thing I won't budge on. He's my hero, and I'll run that number forever. "I will always be thankful that I didn't listen as a kid and I met my hero, Nicky Hayden." – JD Beach Growing up, I was always told you shouldn't meet your heroes because you may be let down or think of them differ- ently. Like most things in life as a kid, I didn't listen to that. I not only got to meet one of my heroes, I got to spend valuable time with him. Growing up in the early 2000s with the dream of racing for a living, Nicky was showing America that was possible. Coming from the humble roots of dirt track, then making a splash in road racing at a young age, was a path I wanted to follow. Before moving in with the Gillim family in Owensboro, I spent a lot of time here and, of course, heard the Hayden family name. The first GP I went to was at Laguna Seca when Nicky got his first win. Then retired from professional racing for about 10 years at that point, so most of our conversations were spent reminiscing, talking about the times we trained together and reliving those good old days. I miss Nicky and think about him a lot. Sometimes it's the smallest things hearing something on the radio or a song he used to reference that brings him to mind. Moments like that always make it feel like he's still around and just checking in. when I started my road race career with the Red Bull Rookies Cup, I got to be in Valencia the weekend Nicky won the World Championship. At the time I was 14 years old. Fast forward to my early-to-mid 20s and I was living in Owensboro and got to start training and riding with Nicky. It's funny, when Paul (Carruthers) asked me to write this and send a photo of us together, I really don't have many. We were friends hanging out and riding, the group of us, and Nicky labeled us the Rat Pack. Hanging out in the garage between motos, giving each other crap and laughing, and not even realizing what I was learning. Nicky had unbelievable talent, but what topped that was his work ethic. It was something I wanted to mimic. Not because I thought it was cool but because it was just who Nicky was. If it was doing laps on the turn track until everyone stopped or pushing so hard on a bicycle that no one could see straight from being out of breath… the difference was he enjoyed it and lived for it, and I was lucky enough to unknowingly pick up on that and learn from it. On top of all the racing, Nicky was a family man. He loved his family and his nieces and nephews. I got to experience that all firsthand. I will always be thankful that I didn't listen as a kid and I met my hero, Nicky Hayden. Old friends reminiscing at the Goodwood Festival in 2016. Four of the "Rat Pack" during a break from training: (from left to right) Davis Fisher, Nicky Hayden, Roger Hayden, and JD Beach. Nicky Hayden leads Justin Barcia on a road bike ride. "It wasn't even a race, but between us that day, it was."

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