Addicted to Speed

Nicky Hayden celebrating his third WorldSBK podium of 2016 at Laguna Seca on July 9. Image: WorldSBK

The last American to win the MotoGP world championship was Nicky Hayden, and May 22 was the sixth anniversary of his death, age 35, following a road bicycle accident in Italy while Hayden was in the middle of the 2017 season racing World Superbike for the Red Bull Honda team. The Southern gentleman brought a Kentucky-meets-Hollywood charm and charisma to the racing paddock the likes we may not ever see again, but his true colors were reflected by his addiction to speed.

Hayden took his one and only WorldSBK victory in a wet Sepang race in May 2016, regaining the confidence he lost after coming up winless since his world championship season 10 years prior. He raced the MotoGP championship from 2003 - 2015.