FEATURE
NICKY HAYDEN MEMORIAL
P126
A study in style:
Hayden was always
one of those racers
who could produce
devastating speed
in a neat, controlled
manner.
(Left) After some lean years in
MotoGP, Hayden switched to the
World Superbike Championship
with Ten Kate Honda in 2016.
The Kentucky Kid proved he still
had the speed, winning race two
on the aging Honda CBR1000RR
in Malaysia in only his sixth
round of the series.
(Above) His final WorldSBK race. The 2017 season had been a tough one
so far for Hayden. The new Honda CBR1000RR SP2 had yet to prove its
true competitiveness, but Hayden never gave up—a trademark that served
him well across racing and life. (Left) Hayden's title defense in 2007 did
not go to plan. The RC212V was crafted for the diminutive Dani Pedrosa,
and Hayden never gelled with the Honda that season. (Right) Hayden's
final MotoGP race came when he stood in for the injured Dani Pedrosa at
his old stomping ground of Repsol Honda at Phillip Island in 2016.
