Timeline
Nicky Hayden through the years
2012
Series: MotoGP
Team: Ducati Team
Motorcycle: Ducati Desmosedici GP12
The 2012 season finds Nicky in his fourth year as a factory Ducati rider, in a season that is marked by MotoGP’s return to a 1,000cc format. The larger bikes suit the American’s riding style, and the timing of the reduced restrictions on testing was fortuitous for Ducati Corse as it prepared its twin-spar-framed Desmosedici GP12.
2011
Series: MotoGP
Team: Ducati Team
Motorcycles: Ducati Desmosedici GP11, Ducati Desmosedici GP11.1
Season Finish: 8th
Big things were expected of the Ducati Team when Hayden was joined by nine-time world champion Valentino Rossi, with whom he had been teamed for his rookie MotoGP season, at Repsol Honda. Unfortunately, the squad struggled to give the riders the front-end feel they needed to be competitive, despite intense, yearlong efforts, including a mid-season switch to the updated GP11.1, essentially a prototype for the following year’s machine. Despite the challenges, Nicky still managed a podium finish at the wet Jerez round.
2010
Series: MotoGP
Team: Ducati Marlboro
Motorcycle: Ducati Desmosedici GP10
Season Finish: 7th
With a year of experience aboard the Ducati under his belt, Nicky was more competitive, riding to fourth-place finishes at four of the first five races. With only four exceptions (three of which were crashes), Hayden never finished outside the top eight. The season highlight was a podium result at Aragon, following an inspired last-lap pass on champ-to-be Jorge Lorenzo.
2009
Series: MotoGP
Team: Ducati Marlboro
Motorcycle: Ducati Desmosedici GP9
Season Finish: 13th
Nicky’s seventh year in the premier class marked his first with Italian manufacturer Ducati, where he was teamed with Australian Casey Stoner. Following ten years aboard Hondas, it was a big adjustment, but Hayden faced the challenge with his usual determination, racing to an exciting podium finish at his home race, the Indianapolis GP.
2008
Series: MotoGP
Team: Repsol Honda
Motorcycle: Honda RC212V
Season Finish: 6th
The 2008 season was marked by injuries and misfortune for Nicky, who hurt his foot while participating in the X-Games Supermoto race in Los Angeles during a break in the season, forcing him to subsequently sit out two MotoGP rounds. On the other hand, there were moments for celebration. Examples included a runner-up finish at the inaugural Indianapolis GP, just down the road from his Kentucky home, and another podium at Phillip Island.
2007
Series: MotoGP
Team: Repsol Honda
Motorcycle: Honda RC212V
Season Finish: 8th
In 2007, MotoGP switched to a new engine format, dropping maximum allowed displacement from 990 to 800cc. The smaller bikes weren’t ideal for Nicky’s riding style, which had been formed aboard big Superbikes and loose Superbikes, and a successful title defense wasn’t in the cards. Nonetheless, he notched podium results at the Sachsenring, Assen, and Brno. That same season saw the publishing of Hayden’s biography, From OWB to MotoGP, and Nicky also starred in the MTV special The Kentucky Kid.
2006
Series: MotoGP
Team: Repsol Honda
Motorcycle: Honda RC211V
Season Finish: 1st
A career of hard work paid off in 2006, when Nicky achieved his lifelong dream of becoming a world champion. The achievement came about thanks to consistently strong finishes, including victories at Laguna Seca and Assen, but it wasn’t without its harrowing moments, the most famous of which was at Estoril’s penultimate round, where Hayden was taken out of the race and the points lead a by teammate Dani Pedrosa. However, a solid podium finish by Hayden at the finale was enough to take the crown.
2005
Series: MotoGP
Team: Repsol Honda
Motorcycle: Honda RC211V
Season Finish: 3rd
July 10, 2005 marked an important occasion in Nicky’s career, as the Kentuckian rode to his first MotoGP victory, at Laguna Seca. So stirring was the race that it was the subject of the Mark Neale-directed documentary The Doctor, The Tornado & The Kentucky Kid. More importantly, it served notice that the American was to be taken seriously. Five additional podium finishes, in Germany, Qatar, Australia, Turkey, and Valencia, helped Hayden to a then-career-best MotoGP season finish of third.
2004
Series: MotoGP
Team: Repsol Honda
Motorcycle: Honda RC211V
Season Finish: 8th
A broken collarbone incurred on a Supermoto bike while training in Italy adversely affected what Hayden and his fans had hoped would be a strong sophomore season in MotoGP. Including rounds that he missed due to injury, Nicky failed to reach the finish line at six races. Still, he demonstrated his speed with podium results in Brazil and Germany.
2003
Series: MotoGP
Team: Repsol Honda
Motorcycle: Honda RC211V
Season Finish: 5th
Having advanced to the planet’s top series for motorcycle road racing, Nicky competed in his first MotoGP race on April 6, 2003, finishing a respectable seventh. His first podium in the class came at Motegi, and it was followed by another at Phillip Island, earning Hayden Rookie of the Year honors.
2002
Series: AMA Superbike; AMA Flat Track
Team: American Honda
Motorcycle: Honda RC51; Honda CRF450R
Season Finish: 1st SB
The 2002 season started well for Nicky, who rode to his first victory at the prestigious Daytona 200, and it finished even better, as he became the youngest AMA Superbike champion ever. Hayden also competed in the Laguna Seca round of the World Superbike series, finishing a respectable fourth in Race 1.
2001
Series: AMA Superbike; AMA Flat Track
Team: American Honda; TCR
Motorcycle: Honda RC51; Rotax
Season Finish: 3rd SB
Having injured his wrist late in the off-season, Nicky underwent surgery after the Daytona opener, and after his return, he struggled with Carpal Tunnel Syndrome. He rebounded, however, earning his first AMA Superbike pole position and finishing his sophomore season in the class in third place. Hayden also had a couple of strong dirt track performances a close runner-up finish to brother Tommy at the Springfield TT.
2000
Series: AMA Superbike; AMA Flat Track
Team: American Honda; TCR
Motorcycle: Honda RC51; Rotax
Season Finish: 2nd SB; 10th GNC
Honda moved Nicky into the factory team for the new millennium, and he responded with performances that proved it had been a good decision. Only a mechanical prevented him from winning the Daytona 200 AMA Superbike opener (he still managed to finish second), and he earned his first victory in the class, at Road America. Nicky, who added another win at Willow Springs, was in contention for the title for much of the year. He also campaigned part of the AMA 600 Supersport season, though Honda eventually pulled him to have him focus on Superbike, and he competed in AMA Flat Track rounds when the dates didn’t conflict.
1999
Series: AMA Formula Xtreme; AMA 600 Supersport; AMA Flat Track
Team: Erion Honda; TCR
Motorcycles: Honda CBR900RR; Honda CBR600; Harley-Davidson XR750
Season Finish: 2nd FX; 1st 600; 9th FT
Still rapidly improving, Nicky—who had moved to a strong Honda satellite squad, but with a contract directly with the Honda factory—confirmed his promise by becoming the youngest AMA 600 Supersport title-winner ever. He also gained valuable experience aboard big bikes, substituting for injured teammate Miguel Duhamel in AMA Superbike for four races. He took full advantage of the opportunity, posting his first podium in the class during the series finale, at Pikes Peak International Raceway.
1998
Series: AMA 750 Supersport; AMA 600 Supersport
Team: Hypercycle Suzuki; TCR
Motorcycles: Suzuki GSX-R750; Suzuki GSX-R600; Rotax
Season Finish: 4th 750; 4th 600
Competing aboard satellites Suzuki in his first full AMA season, Nicky took a step forward with his riding, regularly finishing ahead of factory Suzuki riders and even posting his first pro victories, in 600 Supersport (at Willow Springs), 750 Supersport (at Laguna Seca), and Formula Xtreme (again at Willow). In all, he earned five victories on the year.
1997
Series: AMA 750 Supersport; AMA 600 Supersport; AMA Flat Track
Team: Earl’s Racing
Motorcycle: Kawasaki ZX-6R
Hayden turned pro on his 16th birthday midway through the ’97 season, and with brother Tommy having signed for satellite squad Muzzy Racing, Nicky borrowed a bike from the team and traveled to the remaining races in the season. His results were okay, but most impressive was his qualifying performance at the season finale in Las Vegas, where he started on the front row in both Supersport classes. In his final amateur dirt track season, Nicky earned the AMA Horizon Award.
1996
Team: Earl’s Racing
Although Tommy was now regularly competing in AMA road race nationals, Nicky was still under-aged, so apart from spectating at his brother’s events, Nicky’s racing was limited to amateur competition.
1995
Team: Earl’s Racing
Though Nicky was excluded from AMA amateur dirt track racing for six months when it was discovered that he was two years younger than Earl had claimed back when applying for his original license (in order to get him earlier experience), he continued competing in WERA events and “outlaw” dirt tracks.
1994
Team: Earl’s Racing
Along with Tommy, young Nicky got his first taste of international travel and racing, as the brothers took part in two rounds of Spain’s Open Ducados, a strong amateur series for up-and-coming 125cc road racers. The brothers rode for a Wayne Rainey-managed effort, but at just 15 and 12, respectively, they faced a difficult challenge. Nicky crashed at Jerez and finished mid-pack at Jarama.
1993
Team: Southwest Motorsports
Along with Tommy, Nicky stepped up to racing in the WERA series, a national club-racing championship that is one level below AMA competition. In addition to sprint racing, the brothers also participated in the club’s endurance class in order to get more track time and gain valuable experience.
1992
Team: Moto Liberty
The Haydens continued improving their road racing craft in ’92, and they were impressive enough on their minibikes that they picked up sponsorship from Dallas shop Moto Liberty, who gave them their first experience on 125s.
1991
Team: Earl’s Racing
Nicky own five of his six classes at the AMA Amateur National Dirt Track event, but the Haydens were now focused primarily on minibike road racing. The family made several trips from Kentucky to Texas for CMRA events.
1990
Team: Earl’s Racing
At the AMA Amateur National Dirt Track, the Haydens swept the 65cc class, with Nicky being joined on the podium by Jenny and Tommy. Recognizing that there were more opportunities in road racing, the Haydens loaded up a pair of Yamaha YSR50s and attended the season’s last two rounds of CMRA, a strong road racing club in Texas. Tommy and Nicky both got their first taste of competing on asphalt, and although their lines were a bit unorthodox, their talent was evident.
1989
Team: Earl’s Racing
As the family searched for stiffer competition, they were traveling further from their Kentucky home. Nicky entered the AMA Amateur National Dirt Track event for the first time.
1988
Team: Earl’s Racing
In addition to their usual summer racing, the Haydens began augmenting their schedule during the winter months by entering indoor “outlaw” races, unsanctioned events with no age limit, that provided Nicky the chance to compete (and win) against much older competition.
1987
Team: Earl’s Racing
In addition to his dirt track racing, Nicky began riding a Yamaha YSR50 mini road racer for fun on his family’s property.
1986
Team: Earl’s Racing
Along with his older siblings, Tommy and Jenny, Nicky began regularly competing in dirt track events around Kentucky, primarily in the WKCRA series that visited the local fairs.
1985
Team: Earl’s Racing
Having ridden for the first time a couple of years earlier, at age 3, Nicky entered his first minibike dirt track race—a 3/8 mile at Paducah International Raceway—in 1985.