Nicky Hayden's number 69 will be retired from MotoGP at the Austin MotoGP round, series bosses have revealed today.
The Kentucky rider passed away after a collision while cycling in Italy in 2017.
"What a great honour it will be for Nicky's #69 to be retired at Austin,” says Hayden’s father, Earl.
“It is very fitting that it will be done at the US race as these races meant so much to Nicky and he looked forward to them so much every year. For myself in particular this will be very special event because the #69 was my number when I raced and I was very proud to see Nicky run the #69 on his bikes for his entire career.
"On behalf of my entire family I would like to say a special thanks to Dorna for honoring Nicky in this special way along with the many other gestures they have done to support us through the difficult times."
Hayden's first MotoGP successes came in 2003 when he took podiums as a rookie and he went on to win his first Grand Prix in 2005. That created a perfect springboard for the following season and he put together an impressive campaign to become 2006 MotoGP World Champion, wrapping up the crown in the season finale.
Hayden rose from dirt track beginnings to the absolute pinnacle of his sport, taking his unique blend of work ethic, humility and talent from the domestic scene to the world stage and putting his name to an astounding number achievements both within racing and beyond its limits – key amongst which was his moniker as ‘the nicest man in Grand Prix racing’.
Hayden remained a cornerstone of the paddock until his departure at the end of 2015, upon which he was named a MotoGP™ Legend. The number 69 will now forever remain the number of the “Kentucky Kid”; the man who rode it into the Hall of Fame.
