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/981926
IN THE WIND P56 NICKY HAYDEN STATUE TO BE UNVEILED IN OWENSBORO T he late Nicky Hayden will be honored by the unveiling of a statue in his home town of Ow- ensboro, Kentucky. Created by George Lundeen of Lundeen Sculpture in Loveland, Colorado, the bronze statue was commissioned in partnership with the City of Owensboro. "Nicky left us just under a year ago, and we still miss him every day," said Tom- my Hayden, Nicky's older brother. "We appreciate the support that his fans have given our family during the past 12 months, and we look forward to seeing many of them as we unveil this beautiful tribute to Nicky. We would like to thank the City of Owensboro for their support on this project. Nicky loved this city and took great pride in representing it in a positive way, so it's appropriate that he'll be memorialized here." The work re-creates the popular racer's celebratory lap of Monterey, California's La- guna Seca Raceway following his championship-year victory there, and as Nicky did on July 23, 2006, his likeness will hold aloft an actual American flag. The sculpture will be unveiled on June 8 at 5:30 p.m. on the front lawn of the Owensboro Convention Center, at 501 W. 2nd Street. The ceremony is being held in con- junction with Owensboro's Friday After 5, a summer-long series of free outdoor concerts on the Ohio River waterfront. During the unveiling, Mayor Tom Watson will read a proclamation declaring the following day (June 9, or 6/9), Nicky Hayden Day, referencing Nicky's racing number, 69. "It is with great pride that we as a community have the opportunity to continue 'The Kentucky Kid's' legacy in his hometown," Mayor Watson said. "We will have a lasting memorial to commemorate his accomplishments to not only OBKY but to the world. I want to thank the Hayden family for allow- ing us to partner with them on this truly eventful day." CN YART TAKES SLOVAKIA 8 HOUR EWC WIN T he factory-backed Yamaha Austria Team (YART) won the Slovakia 8 Hour ahead of GMT94 Yamaha and Le Mans 24 Hour winners F.C.C. TSR Honda France, May 12-13. Team riders Broc Parkes, Marvin Fritz and Max Neukirchner held on for a narrow 32-second victory in the Slovakian night after taking over the lead from GMT94 Yamaha riders David Checa, Niccolò Canepa and Mike Di Meglio one and a half hours into the race. F.C.C. TSR Honda France's riders Freddy Foray, Alan Techer and Josh Hook did well to hang onto a podium place with Foray breaking the race's lap re- cord with a time of 2:04.185. Their third place allows them to hang onto the top spot in the 2017-2018 FIM EWC provisional standings, though they are now just one point ahead of GMT94 Yamaha on 116 to 115. CN Nicky Hayden's likeness will be immortalized in a bronze statue in his home town of Owensboro, Kentucky. Marvin Fritz guides the YART R1 to victory in Slovakia.