Nicky Hayden

Hayden was born in Owensboro, Kentucky. He started road racing with the CMRA, often against racers many times older. Hayden would often start races from the back of the grid because a family or crew member would have to hold his bike upright as his feet would not yet touch the ground. Later, at age 17, he was racing factory Honda RC45 superbikes while still in high school.

In 1999, he won the AMA Supersport championship on board a privateer Honda. In 2001, his first full season as an AMA superbike racer, he came within 40 points of winning the championship, finishing behind only champion Mat Mladin and runner-up Eric Bostrom. In the 2002 season, he won the Daytona 200 on a Honda Superbike en route to becoming the youngest ever AMA Superbike Champion, defeating reigning triple champion Mat Mladin, among others. He also entered the World Superbike round at Laguna Seca, making a solid fourth in the first race before colliding with Noriyuki Haga in the second which ended in a 13th-place finish.

File:Nicky-hayden-honda-rc51.jpg

Hayden was one of a long line of American road racers to come from the American dirt-track scene. In 1999, Hayden won his first Grand National Championship race (Hagerstown Half Mile) and took Rookie of the Year honors. He was also declared the AMA's athlete of the Year. In 2000, Hayden won the Springfield Short Track. In 2002, despite racing in just a handful of dirt-track events, Hayden won four races: Springfield Short Track (twice), Springfield TT, and Peoria TT. At the Springfield TT race, the three Hayden brothers took the first three places (Nicky first, Tommy second, and Roger Lee third).[http://www.motorcycle-usa.com/453/35/Motorcycle-Article/Nicky-Hayden-Bio.aspx Nicky Hayden Bio] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100327100236/http://www.motorcycle-usa.com/453/35/Motorcycle-Article/Nicky-Hayden-Bio.aspx |date=March 27, 2010 }}. motorcycle-USA.com; retrieved 2009-06-16.

The win at the 2002 Peoria TT came after beating 13-time Peoria winner, Chris Carr, despite starting from the penalty line. Hayden only lacked a win at a mile track to join Dick Mann, Kenny Roberts, Bubba Shobert, and Doug Chandler in the prestigious "Grand Slam Club."

File:Valentino Rossi and Nicky Hayden 2003 Phillip Island.jpg]]

Immediately after winning his AMA Superbike championship, Hayden was tapped to join not only Honda's MotoGP racing efforts, but what was arguably the premier team in MotoGP racing: The Factory Repsol Honda team.{{cite web|url=http://www.motogp.com/en/news/2002/09/14/nicky-hayden-to-ride-for-hrc-in-2003-motogp-class/133841|title=Nicky Hayden to ride for HRC in 2003 MotoGP class|website=motogp.com}}

In his rookie year of MotoGP, Hayden would be overshadowed by his teammate Valentino Rossi, who was the defending series champion of the year, but would still score consistent points. At the opening round in Japan, Hayden finished seventh while Rossi won the race.{{cite web|url=https://www.crash.net/motogp/news/71939/1/rossi-wins-at-suzuka-ducati-on-podium|title=Rossi wins at Suzuka, Ducati on podium.|date=April 6, 2003|website=crash.net}} But the race was marred by the death of Japanese rider Daijiro Kato who crashed at the 130R and hit the barrier at high speed in the ensuing Casio Triangle.{{cite web|url=https://www.crash.net/motogp/feature/73588/1/kato-inquiry-racing-accident-barriers-to-blame|title=Kato inquiry: Racing accident, barriers to blame.|date=November 28, 2003|website=crash.net}} At the next race in South Africa, Hayden would once more finish in seventh position while his teammate scored second place.

Hayden's only retirement of the season came in Spain. He would score two 12th places at the next rounds in France and Italy and would finish ninth in Catalunya.{{cite web|url=https://www.crash.net/motogp/race-report/72475/1/capirossi-crowned-king-of-catalunya|title=Capirossi crowned king of Catalunya.|date=June 15, 2003|website=crash.net}} Further points would arrive at the Dutch round with an 11th place, the British round with an eighth place, the German round with a then career-best fifth place, nearly losing out on fourth after a battle with Loris Capirossi,{{cite web|url=http://www.motogp.com/en/news/2003/07/27/gibernau-defeats-rossi-in-sizzling-german-duel/135121|title=Gibernau defeats Rossi in sizzling German duel|website=motogp.com}} the Czech round with a fifth place, the Portuguese round with a ninth place and the Rio de Janeiro round with another fifth position.

At the Pacific GP, Hayden would score his first ever podium in the motoGP class after an overtaking manoeuvre from Makoto Tamada on the last lap, which pushed Sete Gibernau into the gravel, was deemed to be against the rules by Race Direction and disqualified Tamada from the race, gifting third place to Hayden.{{cite web|url=http://www.motogp.com/en/news/2003/10/05/max-biaggi-takes-clinical-victory-at-dramatic-motegi-encounter/135370|title=Max Biaggi takes clinical victory at dramatic Motegi encounter|website=motogp.com}} Hayden finished fourth in Malaysia, before scoring his second third place podium at the penultimate round in Australia. During the race, Hayden had made his way up to third but ran slightly wide at the Honda curve, dropping him behind Marco Melandri, Tohru Ukawa, Sete Gibernau and Carlos Checa. He fought his way back and finished +0.031 seconds ahead of Gibernau.{{cite web|url=http://www.motogp.com/en/news/2003/10/19/rossi-wins-dramatic-philip-island-encounter-despite-ten-second-penalty/135453|title=Rossi wins dramatic Philip Island encounter despite ten second penalty|website=motogp.com}} Hayden also battled with teammate Rossi on the opening laps for fifth, passing and re-passing each other on multiple occasions.{{cite web|url=https://www.crash.net/motogp/race-report/73394/1/rossi-wins-island-thriller-despite-penalty|title=Rossi wins Island thriller - despite penalty!|date=October 19, 2003|website=crash.net}} At the Valencian Community race, Hayden would finish just outside the points in 16th place.

Hayden finished fifth in his first year in the championship with 130 points, 227 points behind the champion and teammate Valentino Rossi, an achievement that won him the Rookie-of-the-Year award.{{Cite web|url=http://www.motogp.com/en/news/2003/11/07/nicky-hayden-on-life-after-rossi-at-repsol-honda/135548|title=Nicky Hayden on life after Rossi at Repsol Honda {{!}}|website=motogp.com|language=en|access-date=2019-02-19}}

File:Nicky Hayden 2004 Phillip Island.jpeg]]

After his decent rookie year in the top class, many expected him to do even better and some even speculated about a title fight with his new teammate Alex Barros or Valentino Rossi.

At the season opener in South Africa, Hayden started off well by scoring fifth, a result he would equal at the next round in Spain. In France however, he finished 11th before retiring at the first part of the rain-affected race in Italy.{{cite web|url=https://www.crash.net/motogp/race-report/74131/1/rossi-wins-dramatic-italian-grand-prix|title=Rossi wins dramatic Italian Grand Prix.|date=June 6, 2004|website=crash.net}} Hayden had qualified second on Saturday, 0.369 behind polesitter Sete Gibernau and 0.373 seconds quicker than third position Valentino Rossi to secure his second ever front row start on the grid.{{cite web|url=https://www.crash.net/motogp/news/74109/1/hayden-just-really-happy|title=Hayden: Just really happy!|date=June 5, 2004|website=crash.net}} Hayden would retire once more in Catalunya, this time due to mechanical problems to his Factory Honda bike.{{cite web|url=https://www.crash.net/motogp/news/74187/1/rossi-haunts-gibernau-at-home|title=Rossi haunts Gibernau at home.|date=June 13, 2004|website=crash.net}} At the Dutch round, Hayden would once more finish in fifth place.

At the seventh round of the season—the Rio de Janeiro GP—Hayden would score his first podium of the season in the form of a third place. At the start, both Max Biaggi and Hayden put pressure on Kenny Roberts Jr. who started from pole before passing him. At the halfway point, Hayden was in second place before being overtaken by the Honda Pons of Makoto Tamada and was relegated to third, a place he would maintain until the finish line.{{cite web|url=https://www.crash.net/motogp/race-report/74310/1/tamada-wins-wild-rio-gp|title=Tamada wins wild Rio GP!|date=July 4, 2004|website=crash.net}} At the next race in Germany, Hayden would finish third once more, behind his teammate Barros and race winner Biaggi. On Saturday, Hayden qualified ninth,{{cite web|url=https://www.crash.net/motogp/results/74371/1/final-qualifying-times-sachsenring|title=Final qualifying times - Sachsenring.|date=July 17, 2004|website=crash.net}} but managed to charge up the field and close in on Biaggi and Rossi halfway into the race, along with Barros. He would overtake Hayden for third place before he also passed Rossi for second. With six laps to go, Hayden overtook Rossi for the final podium position and would hold on to cross the line 0.207 seconds ahead of "The Doctor".{{cite web|url=https://www.crash.net/motogp/news/74381/1/biaggi-beats-barros-for-german-gp-victory|title=Biaggi beats Barros for German GP victory.|date=July 18, 2004|website=crash.net}}

After his consistent podium finishes in the last two Grand Prix, Hayden would finish off the podium once more in fourth at the British GP. At the Czech Republic, Hayden would retire for the third time this season. On Saturday, he had qualified on the third row in seventh place, but showed some serious pace during the pre-race warm-up session by finishing first.{{cite web|url=https://www.crash.net/motogp/news/74529/1/hayden-hopkins-quickest-in-dry-warm-up|title=Hayden, Hopkins quickest in dry warm-up.|date=August 22, 2004|website=crash.net}} When the lights went out, Hayden initially started off well—he moved up the field to battle with a three-man group consisting of Rossi, Biaggi and Barros, who tried to reduce the gap to race leader Gibernau. After Barros fell and retired, Hayden moved up to fourth, but with five laps to go, Hayden lost the front wheel on turn-in and bounced into the gravel, retiring from the race in the process.{{cite web|url=https://www.crash.net/motogp/news/74526/1/gibernau-czechs-rivals-with-brno-victory|title=Gibernau Czechs rivals with Brno victory.|date=August 22, 2004|website=crash.net}}

Hayden would break his right collarbone when he rode a CRF450 Honda dirt bike in Italy, causing him to miss the next race in Portugal.{{cite web|url=https://www.roadracingworld.com/news/updated-nicky-hayden-breaks-collarbone/|title=Updated: Nicky Hayden Breaks Collarbone|website=roadracingworld.com|date=August 28, 2004 }}{{cite web|url=https://www.crash.net/motogp/news/74563/1/hayden-injury-to-benefit-gibernau|title=Hayden injury to benefit Gibernau?|date=August 30, 2004|website=crash.net}} He would return the next round in Japan{{cite web|url=https://www.crash.net/motogp/news/74652/1/hayden-collarbone-pretty-solid|title=Hayden: Collarbone pretty solid.|date=September 15, 2004|website=crash.net}} but would retire from the race after he was involved in a six-bike crash on the opening lap, marking his fourth retirement of the season.{{cite web|url=https://www.crash.net/motogp/news/74692/1/tamada-wins-home-gp-rossis-rivals-falter|title=Tamada wins home GP, Rossi's rivals falter.|date=September 19, 2004|website=crash.net}}

At the next three rounds in Qatar, Malaysia and Australia, Hayden would finish fifth, fourth and sixth, respectively, before retiring for the fifth and final time of the year at the last round at the Valencian Community. Hayden battled with Rossi and Biaggi during the race until his bike got sideways under braking into turn one, forcing him to ride wide (after narrowly avoiding hitting the back of Biaggi's machine)—handing Troy Bayliss third and Tamada fourth in the process. One lap later, he lost the front of his RCV heading onto the back straight and span out into retirement, much to the dismay of the watching Michael Jordan.{{cite web|url=https://www.crash.net/motogp/race-report/75025/1/rossi-wins-frantic-valencia-finale|title=Rossi wins frantic Valencia finale.|date=October 31, 2004|website=crash.net}}

Hayden finished eighth in the championship with 117 points, 187 points behind the champion Valentino Rossi. He scored two podiums and retired five times—the most times he retired in one season in his career.

{{multiple image

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After a relatively poor season in 2004, many people critiqued his performances and stated that he should be kicked out of the Factory Honda team. However, things would improve for him in 2005.

At the first round of the season in Spain, Hayden retired for the first time this season. Hayden was in a strong position to finish third—overtaking Valentino Rossi's Yamaha in the early part of the race before being demoted to third by the same Rossi—maintaining a two-second gap to fourth place Marco Melandri. With eight laps to go and 1.5 seconds behind the front runners Sete Gibernau and Rossi, Hayden lost the front of his factory RCV as he tipped in to final corner, sending him into the gravel trap and retirement.{{cite web|url=https://www.crash.net/motogp/race-report/75523/1/rossi-wins-after-last-turn-sete-take-out|title=Rossi wins after last turn Sete take-out!|date=April 10, 2005|website=crash.net|access-date=May 1, 2019}} In contrast, Hayden scored consistent points in the next six races—the Portuguese, Chinese, French, Italian and Catalan and Dutch rounds—finishing seventh, ninth, sixth twice, fifth and fourth, respectively.

His breakthrough came at the United States GP, held at the Laguna Seca Raceway. The Californian venue had not been on the calendar since 1994, meaning that only a handful of riders had experience with this track. Australian Troy Bayliss and American Colin Edwards knew this track well from their Superbike days, as well as Hayden, who won an AMA race at the circuit in 2000 and taken fourth in a World Superbike wildcard outing in 2002. Rossi on the other hand, had never raced here, giving these riders an advantage.{{cite web|url=https://www.motorsport.com/motogp/news/laguna-seca-2005-the-day-nicky-hayden-was-unbeatable-909464/909464/|title=Laguna Seca 2005: The day Nicky Hayden was "unbeatable"|website=motorsport.com|date=May 23, 2017 |access-date=May 1, 2019}} On Saturday, Hayden took his first ever pole position in the MotoGP class, beating former teammate Rossi by 0.354 seconds.{{cite web|url=https://www.crash.net/motogp/feature/76092/1/press-snoop-hayden-on-home-pole-lawson-legend|title=Press Snoop: Hayden on home pole, Lawson legend.|date=July 9, 2005|website=crash.net|access-date=May 1, 2019}}{{cite web|url=https://www.crash.net/motogp/news/76105/1/hayden-a-great-feeling-after-all-these-years|title=Hayden: A great feeling after all these years.|date=July 10, 2005|website=crash.net|access-date=May 1, 2019}}{{cite web|url=https://www.crash.net/motogp/results/76094/1/qualifying-times-laguna-seca|title=Qualifying times - Laguna Seca.|date=July 9, 2005|website=crash.net|access-date=May 1, 2019}} On race day, Bayliss would be battling him for the first spot when the lights went out, but held on and built a gap of a second by the end of the opening lap. Rossi passed Bayliss for second place but 2.6 seconds separating Hayden and Rossi by lap 10. On lap 16, Edwards overtook Rossi for second place and cut the lead gap to 1.8 seconds three laps later. Hayden responded by upping his pace and crossed the line 1.941 seconds clear of second-place Colin Edwards and 2.312 seconds clear of third place Valentino Rossi.{{cite web|website=crash.net|url=http://www.crash.net/motogp/race-report/76104/1/faultless-hayden-wins-first-gp-home-gp.html|title= Faultless Hayden wins first GP, home GP!|date=July 10, 2005|access-date=July 22, 2015}} This was the first personal victory for the "Kentucky Kid" and the first win for the Factory Honda team since Rossi's last win at the 2003 Valencian Community round.

After a great result at his home grand prix in the US, Hayden recorded his second DNF of the season in Great Britain. On lap two, Hayden high-sided his bike at the final turn while being in seventh place.{{cite web|url=https://www.crash.net/motogp/race-report/76202/1/rossi-wins-action-packed-donington-rain-dance|title=Rossi wins action-packed Donington rain dance!|date=July 24, 2005|website=crash.net|access-date=May 1, 2019}} At round 10 in Germany, Hayden scored his second pole position of the season, as well as overall, beating Sete Gibernau by 0.101 seconds on his 24th birthday.{{cite web|url=https://www.crash.net/motogp/news/76247/1/birthday-pole-but-hayden-saves-the-cake|title=Birthday pole but Hayden saves the cake.|date=July 30, 2005|website=crash.net|access-date=May 1, 2019}} When the lights went out, Hayden converted his pole into a lead at the first turn, followed by Rossi, Barros and Gibernau. The race was stopped on lap six after a highside of John Hopskin's Suzuki caused him to lay on the track injured. After the race was restarted with the results from lap five taken, Hayden would once more start in first position, followed by Rossi and Barros. At the restart, Hayden once more kept the position, with Rossi, Gibernau, Barros and now Max Biaggi following him. On lap two, Rossi took the lead from Hayden before he was relegated to third by Gibernau, overtaking him at the end of the same lap. Gibernau ran wide on the last lap, but Hayden failed to capitalise on this mistake, crossing the line 0.885 seconds behind race winner Rossi to pick up his second podium place of the season.{{cite web|url=https://www.crash.net/motogp/news/76265/1/rossi-slays-hondas-for-sachsenring-win|title=Rossi slays Hondas for Sachsenring win.|date=July 31, 2005|website=crash.net|access-date=May 1, 2019}}

In the next three races, Hayden would finish off the podium. At the Czech, Japanese and Malaysian rounds, Hayden finished fifth, seventh and fourth—picking up the fastest lap at the Sepang circuit.

Hayden finished the season on the podium in the next four consecutive races. In Qatar, Hayden would score another third place podium position. In Australia, Hayden went on to score his third pole of the season on Saturday and set a new record on the Phillip Island circuit with a time of 1:29.337, 0.731 seconds faster than Rossi's previous record on the venue.{{cite web|url=https://www.crash.net/motogp/news/76636/1/cool-pole-for-hot-hayden|title='Cool' pole for hot Hayden.|date=October 15, 2005|website=crash.net|access-date=May 1, 2019}} The next day, Hayden converted his pole into a turn-one lead when the red lights went out. On lap three, Rossi overtook Hayden going into turn one before then being passed by Marco Melandri. Hayden fought back, passing Melandri again on the runup to Lukey Heights and closing the gap to Rossi and battling hard with him from laps eight to 17. On lap 17, Hayden would retake the lead from Rossi, but he had slowed down the pace enough for the trio of Melandri, Gibernau and Checa to catch the two at the top. On lap 19, Rossi overtook Hayden before Melandri did the same by taking the position under braking at the Honda hairpin. The pair would swap positions multiple times before Hayden finally found a firm advantage over Melandri, but the combined effect of the squabble and Rossi's victory charge up front, meant that Hayden was now one second behind Rossi with five laps to go. Hayden did everything to close the gap, but Rossi managed to win the race with a 1.007 second lead over him.{{cite web|url=https://www.crash.net/motogp/race-report/76659/1/rossi-thunders-to-victory-down-under|title=Rossi thunders to victory down under.|date=October 16, 2005|website=crash.net|access-date=May 1, 2019}}{{cite web|url=https://www.motorsport.com/motogp/news/rossi-wrests-australian-win-from-hayden/203870/|title=Rossi wrests Australian win from Hayden|website=motorsport.com|access-date=May 1, 2019|archive-date=May 1, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190501154924/https://www.motorsport.com/motogp/news/rossi-wrests-australian-win-from-hayden/203870/|url-status=dead}} At the new Turkish GP, Hayden took another third place{{cite web|url=https://www.crash.net/motogp/news/76722/1/magic-melandri-takes-first-win-in-turkey|title=Magic Melandri takes first win in Turkey.|date=October 23, 2005|website=crash.net|access-date=May 1, 2019}} and at the Valencian Community round, he would narrowly lose out on the race win by 0.097 seconds to race winner Marco Melandri, battling hard on the last lap.{{cite web|url=https://www.crash.net/motogp/race-report/76804/1/melandri-wins-valencia-season-finale|title=Melandri wins Valencia season finale.|date=November 6, 2005|website=crash.net|access-date=May 1, 2019}}

Hayden finished third in the championship with 206 points, 161 points behind the champion Valentino Rossi and 14 points behind runner-up Marco Melandri. He scored six podiums—one of which was a win.

File:Nicky Hayden 2006 Valencia 7.jpg]]

After silencing his critics in 2005 by winning his home race and scoring a multitude of podiums, 2006 would be an even better year for the "Kentucky Kid".

At the opening round in Spain, Hayden finished third, holding off Toni Elías by less than 0.1 seconds while title defender Valentino Rossi finished 14th after he was crashed out by the same Elías.{{cite web|url=https://www.crash.net/motogp/race-report/77230/1/capirossi-beats-pedrosa-for-jerez-victory|title=Capirossi beats Pedrosa for Jerez victory.|date=March 26, 2006|website=crash.net}} At the second race in Qatar, Hayden finished in second place with Rossi winning the race. Hayden was running a strong race, even passing Rossi for the lead on lap 19, but ultimately lost out to him on the last lap and crossed the line 0.900 seconds behind Rossi.{{cite web|url=https://www.crash.net/motogp/race-report/77304/1/rossi-restores-order-with-close-qatar-win|title=Rossi restores order with close Qatar win.|date=April 8, 2006|website=crash.net}} In Turkey, Hayden would finish third once more after his Factory Honda teammate Dani Pedrosa crashed out of contention at the final stages of the race. This allowed Hayden to take the championship lead from Capirossi by just one point.{{cite web|url=https://www.crash.net/motogp/news/77370/1/melandri-beats-stoner-in-turkish-thriller|title=Melandri beats Stoner in Turkish thriller.|date=April 30, 2006|website=crash.net}} At the Chinese round, Hayden would record his fourth consecutive podium by finishing second behind his rookie teammate Pedrosa, who won the race. Hayden started fifth but dropped to seventh on the opening lap before moving up the field and finding himself second, behind Pedrosa. In the last 10 laps, Hayden closed the gap to Pedrosa to just 0.6 seconds with four laps to go, but he responded by upping his pace, setting a fastest lap and increasing the gap to win his first ever race with a margin of 1.505 seconds over Hayden.{{cite web|url=https://www.crash.net/motogp/race-report/77442/1/pedrosa-wins-shanghai-showdown-rossi-retyres|title=Pedrosa wins Shanghai showdown, Rossi 'retyres'.|date=May 14, 2006|website=crash.net}}

At the French GP, Hayden finished off the podium for the first time this season by finishing fifth, but would still leave Le Mans with a 43-point advantage over Rossi in the championship because he finished even lower in eighth. His closest contenders at that time were Marco Melandri and Loris Capirossi, who were both three points behind at that point. After France, Hayden bounced back by finishing third in Italy, battling throughout the race and almost taking second from Capirossi (which also caused Capirossi to take the lead in the championship),{{cite web|url=https://www.crash.net/motogp/race-report/77564/1/rossi-strikes-back-with-home-mugello-win|title=Rossi strikes back with home Mugello win|date=June 4, 2006|website=crash.net}} second in Catalunya (while both Capirossi and Melandri missed the race),{{cite web|url=https://www.crash.net/motogp/race-report/77633/1/rossi-wins-roberts-podiums-after-catalan-chaos|title=Rossi wins, Roberts podiums after Catalan chaos.|date=June 18, 2006|website=crash.net}} scoring the fastest lap, and scoring his first victory of the season at the Dutch round. Hayden started from fifth on the grid but overtook Marco Melandri, Shinya Nakano and pole-sitter John Hopkins to move up to second and chase down Colin Edwards, who had been leading the race for much of the race. On the penultimate lap, Hayden overtook him under braking for the back chicane. Edwards tried to keep his Factory Yamaha alongside him but was forced to lift and go down an escape road—rejoining just over a second from the Factory Honda rider. That mistake looked likely to settle the race, but Edwards pushed hard and passed Hayden again with just half a lap to go. Both were riding on the limit, but Edwards got a better drive heading into the fast kinks that precede the final chicane and retook the lead with just a few corners to go. Edwards then ran his M1 wide through the fast left hander, giving him a defensive inside line for the final chicane. Hayden lunged his machine and both went through the corner side-by-side, but Hayden couldn't make the corner (possibly after selecting neutral) and ran wide across the gravel. This would have given the victory to Edwards, but he also ran wide onto a slick patch of synthetic grass and was thrown off his bike, allowing Hayden to win the race. This win gave Hayden a full set of 25 points and with Rossi finishing in eighth place, he increased his gap over him by 46 points in the championship.{{cite web|url=https://www.crash.net/motogp/race-report/77684/1/hayden-wins-after-last-turn-assen-showdown|title=Hayden wins after last turn Assen showdown!|date=June 24, 2006|website=crash.net}}

Hayden would once more finish off the podium in seventh place in Great Britain with Rossi picking up second place, but Hayden would respond in Germany by finishing third behind Marco Melandri and Rossi whom he battled with all throughout the race, finishing 0.266 behind eventual race winner Rossi,{{cite web|url=https://www.crash.net/motogp/race-report/77814/1/rossi-beats-hondas-for-incredible-sachsenring-win|title=Rossi beats Hondas for incredible Sachsenring win.|date=July 16, 2006|website=crash.net}} and by winning his home race at the United States round in Laguna Seca for the second consecutive year in a row. Hayden started sixth on the grid, but gained three places at turn one and was chasing down Kenny Roberts Jr. and pole-sitter Chris Vermeulen. Hayden overtook Kenny Roberts Jr. on lap nine, but by that time Vermeulen had built up a two-second gap. However, Hayden cut the gap to Vermeulen down as Vermeulen's Bridgestone tires started to suffer in the warm conditions and—as the halfway stage arrived—was within striking distance. Vermeulen ran slightly wide on the next lap, reluctantly conceding the win to Hayden. After taking over first place from Vermeulen, he built up a two-second gap and crossed the line first, 3.186 seconds ahead of Hayden's teammate Dani Pedrosa. Rossi retired from the race due to mechanical problems, increasing Hayden's championship lead over now second-place Pedrosa by 34 points and Rossi by 51 points, who now stood fourth in the championship.{{cite web|url=https://www.crash.net/motogp/news/77860/1/hayden-claims-us-gp-repeat-rossi-disaster|title=Hayden claims US GP repeat, Rossi disaster.|date=July 23, 2006|website=crash.net}}

Hayden finished ninth at the Czech Republic, fourth at the Malaysian, fifth at the Australian, despite scoring his first and only pole position of the season here,{{cite web|url=https://www.crash.net/motogp/news/78073/1/hayden-fights-back-with-phillip-island-pole|title=Hayden fights back with Phillip Island pole.|date=September 16, 2006|website=crash.net}} and finishing fifth once more in Japan. With Rossi scoring consistent podiums—including one win at Sepang—he managed to move up to second in the championship once more and cut the points deficit from 51 at Laguna Seca to 12 in Motegi.{{cite web|url=https://www.crash.net/motogp/race-report/78136/1/capirossi-conquers-motegi-rossi-ready-to-strike|title=Capirossi conquers Motegi, Rossi ready to strike.|date=September 24, 2006|website=crash.net}}

At the penultimate round in Portugal, Rossi took pole position on Saturday with Hayden starting in third position.{{cite web|url=https://www.crash.net/motogp/news/78208/1/rossi-leads-camel-qualifying-sweep-hayden-third|title=Rossi leads Camel qualifying sweep, Hayden third.|date=October 14, 2006|website=crash.net}} On race day, Hayden was taken out by his teammate Dani Pedrosa on the fifth lap after Pedrosa tried to overtake him but failed, lost the front and hit Hayden, causing both riders to retire. This first and only retirement of the year would hand Rossi the championship by eight points going into the last round of the season.{{cite web|url=https://www.crash.net/motogp/race-report/78218/1/elias-wins-repsol-horror-hands-rossi-title-lead|title=Elias wins, Repsol horror hands Rossi title lead.|date=October 15, 2006|website=crash.net}} However, because Rossi finished second—just 0.002 behind race winner Toni Elías—he took away five points from Rossi, which would play a crucial role at the last race in Valencia. After the race, Hayden said that he "didn't expect Dani to pull over and let me by, but I definitely didn't expect him to do that."{{cite web|url=https://www.crash.net/motogp/news/78223/1/hayden-pedrosa-talk-after-title-suicide|title=Hayden, Pedrosa talk after 'title suicide'.|date=October 16, 2006|website=crash.net}}

Being relegated to second in the championship standings, Hayden knew it would be tough to win at the Valencian Community round. Rossi needed to finish in second place or higher to win the title. He took his second consecutive pole position on Saturday with Hayden starting on the second row in fifth place.{{cite web|url=https://www.crash.net/motogp/news/78287/1/rossi-on-target-hayden-all-or-nothing|title=Rossi on target, Hayden 'all or nothing'.|date=October 28, 2006|website=crash.net}} On race day however, Rossi got a poor start, dropping him back in seventh place on the opening lap. Hayden meanwhile moved up from sixth to second on lap three of 30. He then tried to go after race leader and wildcard rider Troy Bayliss, who replaced the injured Sete Gibernau. On lap five however, Rossi made a crucial mistake when he lost the front wheel of his M1 and slid out of contention. He managed to get going again, but it would be to no avail: Rossi finished 13th while Hayden crossed the line in third place behind the Ducatis of Bayliss and Capirossi, collecting 247 points to Hayden's 252 and in turn, Nicky Hayden won the 2006 title by five points.{{cite web|url=https://www.crash.net/motogp/news/78306/1/haydens-dream-comes-true|title=Hayden's dream comes true.|date=October 30, 2006|website=crash.net}}{{cite web|url=https://www.crash.net/motogp/race-report/78294/1/bayliss-wins-rossi-falls-hayden-world-champion|title=Bayliss wins, Rossi falls, Hayden world champion!|date=October 29, 2006|website=crash.net}}

{{multiple image

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On September 22, 2006, Hayden signed a two-year agreement that allowed for him to race for and develop with the factory Honda Racing Corporation (HRC) team for the 2007 and 2008 MotoGP seasons.[http://www.speedtv.com/articles/moto/motogp/32749/ Hayden Signs with Honda for Two More Years] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070930013001/http://www.speedtv.com/articles/moto/motogp/32749/ |date=September 30, 2007 }} article from SPEEDtv He utilized the 800cc Honda RC212V, and as title holders, his MotoGP racing number changed from 69 to 1 for the 2007 season.

The 2007 season started badly for Hayden, struggling with the performance of the new bike. In Qatar he finished seventh while his teammate Dani Pedrosa finished on the podium, behind Valentino Rossi and Casey Stoner, who won for his debut race for Ducati.{{cite web|url=https://www.crash.net/motogp/race-report/78662/1/stoner-defeats-rossi-for-debut-victory|title=Stoner defeats Rossi for debut victory!|date=March 10, 2007|website=crash.net}} At the next two races in Spain and Turkey, Hayden finished in seventh place twice before finishing 12th in China.

At the French round, Hayden recorded his first retirement of the season. While running fourth in the race, he suffered a heavy fall with just four laps to go. Chris Vermeulen on the Suzuki won the rain-affected race.{{cite web|url=https://www.crash.net/motogp/news/78940/1/vermeulen-victorious-in-le-mans-rain|title=Vermeulen victorious in Le Mans rain.|date=May 20, 2007|website=crash.net}} At the Italian and Catalan rounds, Hayden finished 10th and 11th before finishing outside of the points in 17th in Great Britain after crashing out of sixth place early on.{{cite web|url=https://www.crash.net/motogp/news/79141/1/stoner-storms-donington|title=Stoner storms Donington.|date=June 24, 2007|website=crash.net}}

Things would get better at the Dutch round. On Thursday, he had a good pace on both free practice sessions, finishing third in both sessions.{{cite web|url=https://www.crash.net/motogp/news/79181/1/hot-start-for-hayden|title=Hot start for Hayden.|date=June 28, 2007|website=crash.net}} At the third free practice session on Saturday, he finished third once more. However, a wet qualifying meant that Hayden lost a lot of the momentum he had in the dry and qualified in 13th place.{{cite web|url=https://www.crash.net/motogp/news/79199/1/vermeulen-sails-to-assen-pole-rossi-washout|title=Vermeulen sails to Assen pole, Rossi washout.|date=June 29, 2007|website=crash.net}} During warm-up on Sunday, the track was dry and Hayden finished the session first, ahead of the Suzuki of John Hopkins and the Yamaha of Valentino Rossi.{{cite web|url=https://www.crash.net/motogp/news/79208/1/warm-up-times-assen|title=Warm-up times - Assen.|date=June 30, 2007|website=crash.net}} When the race started, Hayden moved from 13th to sixth going into the first corner, and moved up to finish in third: his first podium of the season and his highest position since the start of the season.{{cite web|url=https://www.crash.net/motogp/race-report/79207/1/rossi-hunts-down-stoner-at-assen|title=Rossi hunts down Stoner at Assen.|date=June 30, 2007|website=crash.net}} His good form continued at the next race in Germany. Starting just 14th on the grid after another poor qualifying performance, the Michelin-shod Honda of Hayden, as well as the Yamaha of Colin Edwards fared much better on the Sachsenring track compared to the Bridgestone-shod Ducati of Casey Stoner, whom they would overtake in the closing stages of the race. Hayden finished third, making this his second consecutive podium of the year.{{cite web|url=https://www.crash.net/motogp/race-report/79282/1/pedrosa-honda-demolish-drought-in-germany|title=Pedrosa, Honda demolish drought in Germany.|date=July 15, 2007|website=crash.net}}

After winning his home grand prix for two consecutive years, Hayden would retire for the second time at the United States round. After qualifying fourth on Saturday,{{cite web|url=https://www.crash.net/motogp/news/79339/1/stoner-takes-poisoned-chalice-pole|title=Stoner takes 'poisoned chalice' pole|date=July 21, 2007|website=crash.net}} he ran wide when he ran wide alongside John Hopkins at turn two and then made contact with Hopkins' Suzuki as both attempted to get back on line. Hayden would rejoin in 16th position, his Honda damaged, fighting with wildcards Chaz Davies and Miguel Duhamel. On lap eight, he was lapping around three seconds slower than the rest of the field and ahead of only Hopkins on the timing screens, prompting him to retire eventually.{{cite web|url=https://www.crash.net/motogp/race-report/79349/1/stoner-storms-laguna|title=Stoner storms Laguna.|date=July 22, 2007|website=crash.net}} Before the race, an authorized biography on Hayden and his brothers--The Haydens: Nicky, Tommy, & Roger, from OWB to MotoGP—timed to coincide with his return to the US Grand Prix.{{cite web|url=https://www.goodreads.com/work/best_book/2086438-the-haydens-nicky-tommy-and-roger-from-owb-to-motogp|title=The Haydens|website=goodreads.com}}

He bounced back at the next race in the Czech Republic, scoring another third place podium. On Saturday, Hayden qualified 0.280 seconds behind Casey Stoner in second place,{{cite web|url=https://www.crash.net/motogp/news/79438/1/part-time-stoner-strolls-to-pole|title='Part time' Stoner strolls to pole.|date=August 18, 2007|website=crash.net}}{{cite web|url=https://www.crash.net/motogp/news/79442/1/hayden-heats-up-with-first-front-row|title=Hayden heats up with first front row.|date=August 18, 2007|website=crash.net}} but slipped to fourth after a poor getaway at the line. He would eventually pass his teammate Pedrosa to hold on to third place on lap two, a position he held for the rest of the race.{{cite web|url=https://www.crash.net/motogp/race-report/79447/1/stoner-czechs-out-rossi-struggles|title=Stoner czechs out, Rossi struggles.|date=August 19, 2007|website=crash.net}}

At the new race in San Marino, Hayden finished 13th after a poor start and a crash—involving Randy de Puniet and Pedrosa—forced him into the gravel.{{cite web|url=https://www.crash.net/motogp/news/79516/1/stoner-soars-to-misano-victory-rossi-stops|title=Stoner soars to Misano victory, Rossi stops.|date=September 2, 2007|website=crash.net}} At the Portuguese round, Hayden scored his first and only pole position of the season on Saturday, outqualifying Casey Stoner by just 0.040 seconds.{{cite web|url=https://www.crash.net/motogp/news/79567/1/hayden-exorcises-estoril-demons|title=Hayden exorcises Estoril demons.|date=September 15, 2007|website=crash.net}} However, he would struggle on race day, managing to finish just off the podium in fourth after moving up the order after an early race slump.{{cite web|url=https://www.crash.net/motogp/news/79583/1/rossi-wins-as-racing-returns|title=Rossi wins as racing returns.|date=September 16, 2007|website=crash.net}} In Japan, Hayden finished in ninth place.

In Australia, Hayden retired for the third time of the season. Hayden started off well, moving up from fourth to second on the opening lap and battling with Stoner at the first half of the race. On lap 11 however, his engine started to lose power, which allowed Rossi to move up to second place. On lap 13, he lost power completely, forcing him to retire.{{cite web|url=https://www.crash.net/motogp/news/79730/1/stoner-flattens-phillip-island|title=Stoner flattens Phillip Island.|date=October 14, 2007|website=crash.net}}{{cite web|url=https://www.crash.net/motogp/news/79734/1/hayden-furious-at-engine-failure|title=Hayden furious at engine failure.|date=October 15, 2007|website=crash.net}} At the last two races of the season—the Malaysian and Valencian Community rounds—Hayden finished ninth and eighth.

Hayden finished eighth in the championship with 127 points, 240 points behind the champion Casey Stoner and 115 points behind runner-up and Factory Honda teammate Dani Pedrosa.

In 2008, Hayden ran his old number 69 since Casey Stoner earned the right to run the number 1 plate after winning the MotoGP title in 2007.

File:Nicky Hayden 2008 Donington Park 2.jpg]]

Hayden finished 10th at the opening race in Qatar and was duly outpaced by his teammate Dani Pedrosa, who finished on the podium in third place.{{Cite web|url=https://www.crash.net/motogp/news/80287/1/hayden-we-got-beat-bad|title=Hayden: We got beat bad.|date=March 10, 2008|website=crash.net}} At the next race in Spain, Hayden finished just off the podium in fourth position while his teammate went on to win the race. During the race, he was close to overtaking Jorge Lorenzo, but a mistake with just six laps to go allowed the Spaniard to finish third.{{Cite web|url=https://www.crash.net/motogp/news/80364/1/pedrosa-supreme-for-spanish-home-win|title=Pedrosa supreme for Spanish home win.|date=March 30, 2008|website=crash.net}}

Hayden would register his first and only retirement of the season in Portugal. He had dropped back to seventh on the opening lap, before he fought his way back up to fifth place. A crash by Andrea Dovizioso allowed him to move up into fourth position and he was trying to close down a two-second gap to third place Valentino Rossi, but he lost the front of his bike at turn seven and slid out of contention.{{Cite web|url=https://www.crash.net/motogp/news/80447/1/hayden-dovizioso-defiant-after-falls|title=Hayden, Dovizioso defiant after falls.|date=April 14, 2008|website=crash.net}} In the following five rounds, Hayden would not finish higher than sixth. He finished sixth in China, eighth in France, 13th in Italy, eighth again in Catalunya and seventh in Great Britain. The race in Donington Park also marked the race debut of Honda's pneumatic-valve engine, which only Hayden was using initially.

At round nine—the Dutch round in Assen—Hayden ran third from the start and was set to finish there until he ran out of fuel at the final corner, due to an electrical system problem which prevented accurate fuel monitoring. Colin Edwards captured Hayden's third-place podium moments before Hayden coasted over the line with no power, to finish in fourth place.{{Cite web|url=https://www.crash.net/motogp/race-report/80898/1/stoner-wins-dutch-tt-rossi-falls|title=Stoner wins Dutch TT, Rossi falls.|date=June 28, 2008|website=crash.net}}{{cite news|url=http://www.motorcyclenews.com/MCN/sport/sportresults/mcn/2008/june/23-29/jun2808assen-motogp-nicky-hayden-denied-third/|title=Nicky Hayden cruelly denied podium|first=Matthew|last=Birt|date=June 28, 2008|access-date=December 24, 2012|website=motorcyclenews.com}} At the next two rounds in Germany and his home round at the United States, Hayden finished in 13th and fifth positions.{{Cite web|url=https://www.crash.net/motogp/news/80975/1/stoner-wins-german-gp-water-fight|title=Stoner wins German GP water fight.|date=July 13, 2008|website=crash.net}} A heel injury sustained in a motocross crash meant that Hayden would not participate in the Czech and San Marino rounds.{{cite news|url=http://www.motogp.com/en/news/2008/Hayden+to+sit+out+San+Marino+race|title=Hayden explains decision to sit out San Marino race|website=motogp.com|date=August 31, 2008|access-date=December 24, 2012|archive-date=March 29, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120329063642/http://www.motogp.com/en/news/2008/Hayden+to+sit+out+San+Marino+race|url-status=dead}}

As the season went on, the relations within the team had already deteriorated, and there was further friction when Pedrosa switched tire suppliers midseason (from the struggling Michelin to the dominant Bridgestone) without Hayden being consulted. Hayden stated "I've never been put in the conditions to choose. Once they told me that I would have just wasted my time had I even only thought about asking for Bridgestone tires...I'm not surprised they've given them to him. Besides, at Misano I didn't even have the same fork Dani had... No way would I think they'd let me try the new tires".{{cite news|url=http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/70452|title=Hayden hints at Ducati deal|first1=Michele|last1=Lostia|first2=Pablo|last2=Elizalde|work=autosport.com|date=September 10, 2008|access-date=December 24, 2012}} This incident lent weight to the rumours that Hayden and Honda would part ways for the next season.{{cite news|url=http://www.indystar.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080912/SPORTS01/809120437/1052/SPORTS01|title=Hayden's bumpy Honda ride nears end|first1=Curt|last1=Cavin|first2=Steve|last2=Ballard|work=The Indianapolis Star|date=September 12, 2008|access-date=December 24, 2012}} The rumour was confirmed on September 12, 2008, when Hayden stated during a Dorna press conference, "It's no secret. Everybody knows where my next stop is going to be...But officially we're waiting to do it the right way, until the releases come out, because there's teams and stuff".{{cite news|url=http://www.roadracingworld.com/news/article/?article=34159|title=Nicky Hayden Talks About Rumored Switch To Marlboro Ducati In 2009|work=Roadracing World|date=September 12, 2008|access-date=December 24, 2012}}

Despite all the friction and negativity in the media between Hayden and the Repsol Honda team, he would go on to finish the season on a more positive note than last year. In his return race at the inaugural Indianapolis race, he would go on to finish second—his first podium of the season. Hayden started fourth but moved his way up the order, overtaking Valentino Rossi—who had fallen back from pole to fourth position at the start —, his future Ducati teammate Casey Stoner and rookie Andrea Dovizioso on the second lap to take over the lead. After Rossi fought his way back up to second, he would overtake Hayden under wet and tricky conditions down at the main straight on lap 14. With the rain increasing, Hayden started struggling and almost lost second place to the charging Jorge Lorenzo, until the marshalls red-flagged the race with seven laps to go.{{Cite web|url=https://www.crash.net/motogp/news/81297/1/rossi-takes-red-flagged-indy-win|title=Rossi takes red flagged Indy win.|date=September 14, 2008|website=crash.net}} At the Japanese race, Hayden would finish in fifth position.

Hayden's second and last podium of the season, and of his Honda career, would come at the race in Australia. Hayden qualified third while home hero Stoner took pole position. When the lights went out, Stoner was challenged by the 'Kentucky Kid' for 10 laps, before the Australian started to pull a two-second advantage halfway through the race and a 6.5 second lead at the chequered flag. Hayden—still in second place at the time—was facing a late charging Valentino Rossi, who had worked his way up from 12th after a high-speed qualifying fall on Saturday. Hayden fought hard to keep second place, but ultimately couldn't prevent Rossi from taking it on the final lap.{{Cite web|url=https://www.crash.net/motogp/news/81436/1/stoner-wins-home-australian-gp|title=Stoner wins home Australian GP.|date=October 5, 2008|website=crash.net}} At the last two rounds of his Honda career in Malaysia and Valencia, Hayden finished fourth and fifth, respectively.

By the middle of 2008 it was strongly suspected by fans, media, and the MotoGP paddock already, and later supported by Hayden's own admission during a press conference that he would be leaving Honda, that Hayden would be joining the Ducati Marlboro Team to ride alongside Casey Stoner for the 2009 MotoGP season. This was confirmed on September 15, 2008{{cite news | url=http://www.superbikeplanet.com/2008/Sep/080915d.htm | title=Hayden To Join Ducati In 2009 |website=superbikeplanet.com | access-date=2008-09-15 | url-status=dead | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080918015811/http://www.superbikeplanet.com/2008/Sep/080915d.htm | archive-date=September 18, 2008 | df=mdy-all }} thus ending his 10-year relationship with Honda.{{cite news | url=http://www.superbikeplanet.com/2008/Sep/080915a.htm | title=Repsol: Honda & Hayden To Say Farewell |website=superbikeplanet.com | access-date=2008-09-15 | url-status=dead | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080918015755/http://www.superbikeplanet.com/2008/Sep/080915a.htm | archive-date=September 18, 2008 | df=mdy-all }}

File:Wiki Nickyv2.jpg]]

During preseason testing, Hayden was plagued with problems and routinely finished in the mid-pack or lower. His major complaint was that the GP09 was "pumping" during corner exits leading to problems with grip. These problems continued throughout preseason testing.

His first season at Ducati started off badly when, during qualifying at the season opener Qatar round, Hayden suffered from a severe pain in his back and needed three stitches for a cut to his chest after he fell in a major crash. He was launched into the air by a highside at the end of the 45-minute qualifying session when he was trying to improve on his 16th position, and was taken to hospital afterward.{{Cite web|url=https://www.crash.net/motogp/news/145226/1/nicky-hayden-transferred-to-hospital|title=Nicky Hayden transferred to hospital.|date=April 12, 2009|website=crash.net}} After it was declared that Hayden had not broken any bones, he returned in the warm-up session on Sunday{{Cite web|url=https://www.crash.net/motogp/news/145257/1/nicky-hayden-back-on-track-at-qatar|title=Nicky Hayden back on track at Qatar.|date=April 12, 2009|website=crash.net}} and went on to finish 12th in the rain-delayed race, just behind his former teammate Dani Pedrosa.McNeil, Chris. [http://www.motorcycle-usa.com/555/3114/Motorcycle-Article/MotoGP-Racing-Qatar-Results.aspx MotoGP 2009 Qatar Results] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090418193013/http://www.motorcycle-usa.com/555/3114/Motorcycle-Article/MotoGP-Racing-Qatar-Results.aspx |date=April 18, 2009 }}. motorcycle-USA.com. Retrieved on 2009-06-16. This was also Hayden's 100th grand prix.{{Cite web|url=https://www.crash.net/motogp/race-report/145300/1/stoner-contains-rossi-for-qatar-victory|title=Stoner contains Rossi for Qatar victory.|date=April 13, 2009|website=crash.net}} Despite the setbacks, Hayden seemed optimistic about the results saying "I'm leaving here in a really positive mood and looking forward to Motegi.{{Cite web|url=https://www.crash.net/motogp/news/145594/1/hayden-i-felt-comfortable|title=Hayden: I felt comfortable.|date=April 20, 2009|website=crash.net}}

At the second race in Japan, Hayden had never ridden the Ducati in the rain and qualified 12th.Madson, Bart. [http://www.motorcycle-usa.com/555/3235/Motorcycle-Article/MotoGP-Motegi-Qualifying.aspx MotoGP 2009 Motegi Qualifying] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090428155333/http://www.motorcycle-usa.com/555/3235/Motorcycle-Article/MotoGP-Motegi-Qualifying.aspx |date=April 28, 2009 }}. motorcycle-USA.com. Retrieved on 2009-06-16. Then, on the opening lap of the race, Hayden was taken out by rookie Yuki Takahashi who plowed through Hayden from the rear under braking for the hairpin.{{Cite web|url=https://www.crash.net/motogp/news/145953/1/hayden-takahashi-just-took-me-down|title=Hayden: Takahashi just took me down.|date=April 26, 2009|website=crash.net}} As a result, Hayden retired from the race and slipped further down the standings.Madson, Bart. [http://www.motorcycle-usa.com/555/3240/Motorcycle-Article/MotoGP-Motegi-Results.aspx MotoGP 2009 Motegi Results] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100413093947/http://www.motorcycle-usa.com/555/3240/Motorcycle-Article/MotoGP-Motegi-Results.aspx |date=April 13, 2010 }}. motorcycle-USA.com. Retrieved on 2009-06-16.

After Motegi, Hayden would continuously underperform compared to teammate Casey Stoner. He would finish 15th in Spain, 12th in France and Italy but would slowly work his way up as the season progressed when he finished 10th in Catalunya, eighth in Netherlands and fifth at his home race in the United States, his best result of the season yet.{{Cite web|url=https://www.crash.net/motogp/race-report/149378/1/pedrosa-ends-honda-drought-with-us-gp-victory|title=Pedrosa ends Honda drought with US GP victory.|date=July 5, 2009|website=crash.net}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.crash.net/motogp/news/149409/1/hayden-home-fifth-as-hard-as-a-win|title=Hayden: Home fifth as hard as a win.|date=July 6, 2009|website=crash.net}} He finished in eighth place at the German, 15th and a lap down after a poor tire choice at the British{{Cite web|url=https://www.crash.net/motogp/news/150391/1/stoner-hayden-sunk-by-rain-gamble|title=Stoner, Hayden sunk by rain gamble.|date=July 26, 2009|website=crash.net}} and sixth at the Czech rounds. By round 11 however, Stoner already had won two GPs and finished on the podium a further three times.

His breakthrough on the Ducati would come at the Indianapolis round. After qualifying sixth on Saturday, he would move up to fifth and then fourth when Dani Pedrosa and Valentino Rossi crashed out of the race. He then overtook fellow countryman Colin Edwards for third but had to hold off Repsol Honda rider Andrea Dovizioso in the closing stages of the race. He did so and would go on to finish half-a-second clear of Dovizioso, becoming the first Ducati rider other than Stoner to finish on the podium since Loris Capirossi did so at the 2007 Japanese Grand Prix.{{Cite web|url=https://www.crash.net/motogp/news/151676/1/ducati-praise-hayden-after-podium-debut|title=Ducati praise Hayden after podium debut.|date=August 31, 2009|website=crash.net}}

After his first podium of the season, Hayden would register his second retirement when he got tangled up in an incident caused by Alex de Angelis and Colin Edwards. When de Angelis tried to gain positions during the short right-left turns one and two, he hit Edwards who then clipped the back of Hayden, making them all retire from the race on the opening lap of the San Marino GP.{{Cite web|url=https://www.crash.net/motogp/race-report/151975/1/rossi-hits-back-with-home-misano-victory|title=Rossi hits back with home Misano victory.|date=September 6, 2009|website=crash.net}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.crash.net/motogp/news/151986/1/pictures-misano-motogp-first-lap-crash-updated|title=PICTURES: Misano MotoGP first lap crash - UPDATED|date=September 6, 2009|website=crash.net}} After Misano, Hayden finished eighth in Portugal, 15th in Australia after he crashed once more with Jorge Lorenzo on the opening lap and lost a significant amount of time in the process{{Cite web|url=https://www.crash.net/motogp/news/153712/1/hayden-i-dont-blame-lorenzo|title=Hayden: I don't blame Lorenzo.|date=October 19, 2009|website=crash.net}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.crash.net/motogp/news/153718/1/pictures-lorenzo-hayden-turn-one-clash|title=PICTURES: Lorenzo, Hayden turn one clash.|date=October 19, 2009|website=crash.net}} and fifth twice in Malaysia and Valencia.

Hayden finished 13th in the championship with 104 points, 202 points behind the champion Valentino Rossi and 157 points behind runner-up Jorge Lorenzo, his worst result since he first started racing in the MotoGP class in 2003.

{{multiple image

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On September 3, 2009, Ducati said that Hayden had signed a one-year extension of his contract for the 2010 MotoGP season, ending speculation of a move away from the team.{{cite news |url=https://www.autoevolution.com/news/ducati-confirms-hayden-for-2010-10556.html | website=Autoevolution |title=Ducati Confirms Hayden for 2010 |date=September 4, 2009 |first=Ovidiu |last=Panzariu }} He would partner with Casey Stoner once more at the team.{{Cite web|url=https://www.crash.net/motogp/news/151816/1/ducati-keeps-nicky-hayden-for-2010|title=Ducati keeps Nicky Hayden for 2010|date=September 3, 2009|website=crash.net}}

During the off-season, Hayden had surgery on his right arm, having been suffering from compartmental syndrome or more commonly known as arm-pump.{{cite news|url=http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/81413|title=Hayden has surgery on right arm|first=Steven|last=English|website=autosport.com|date=2010-02-11|access-date=2010-02-11}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.crash.net/motogp/news/157381/1/picture-nicky-haydens-scar|title=Picture: Nicky Hayden's scar|date=March 3, 2010|website=crash.net}}

Hayden would, compared to previous years, start off the season well by finishing fourth three consecutive times at the Qatar, Spanish and French rounds. However, his string of good luck would end at the fourth round of the season in Italy when he slid out of sixth place on lap six.{{Cite web|url=https://www.crash.net/motogp/race-report/160394/1/pedrosa-pulls-away-for-mugello-win|title=Pedrosa pulls away for Mugello win|date=June 6, 2010|website=crash.net}} After his retirement in Mugello, Hayden would go on to finish fourth in Great Britain, seventh in the Netherlands, eighth in Catalunya, seventh in Germany, fifth in the United States and sixth twice in the Czech Republic and at Indianapolis.

At the San Marino race, Hayden retired once more when he fell on the opening lap and took out Loris Capirossi, damaging his right little finger and requiring surgery in the process.{{Cite web|url=https://www.crash.net/motogp/news/163027/1/pics-hayden-capirossi-first-lap-clash-at-misano|title=PICS: Hayden, Capirossi first lap clash at Misano|date=September 5, 2010|website=crash.net}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.crash.net/motogp/race-report/163017/1/pedrosa-takes-sombre-misano-win|title=Pedrosa takes sombre Misano win|date=September 5, 2010|website=crash.net}} After his second crash of the year, Hayden registered his first podium in the form of third place at the Aragón GP. On the last lap, he overtook the Yamaha of Jorge Lorenzo on the penultimate corner by diving on the inside through the second part of the slow right-left turns 14 and 15 that leads onto the back straight. With Hayden putting his Ducati on the racing line, Lorenzo was forced to back off and that prevented him from retaking the place going into the long, sweeping turn 16, granting Hayden third place.{{Cite web|url=https://www.crash.net/motogp/news/163415/1/backyard-move-hands-hayden-last-lap-third|title='Backyard move' hands Hayden last lap third|date=September 20, 2010|website=crash.net}} With Casey Stoner winning the race, this marked the first time that two Ducatis finished on the podium since Stoner and Loris Capirossi finished first and second at the 2007 Australian Grand Prix.

Hayden spun off on lap two of the Japanese round, along with Ben Spies. Hayden got going again and finished in 12th position.{{Cite web|url=https://www.crash.net/motogp/news/163922/1/spies-hayden-sent-to-the-back-at-motegi|title=Spies, Hayden sent to the back at Motegi|date=October 4, 2010|website=crash.net}} At the Malaysian, Australian and Portuguese rounds, Hayden finished in sixth, fourth and fifth positions, respectively. At the final race in Valencia, Hayden would retire for the third time this season after he lost the front end of his machine and slid into the gravel trap from third place.{{Cite web|url=https://motomatters.com/results/2010/11/07/2010_valencia_motogp_race_result_comfort.html|title=Kropotkin Thinks. 2010 Valencia MotoGP Race Result: Comfortable Win After Battle Royal. |website=motomatters.com}}

Hayden finished seventh in the championship with 163 points, 220 points behind the champion Jorge Lorenzo and 82 points behind runner-up Dani Pedrosa.

File:MotoGP 2011 Malaysia Test 6.jpg for the 2011 season]]

On August 28, 2010, Hayden extended his partnership with Ducati, signing a two-year contract extension with the factory team.{{cite news|url=http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/86224|title=Hayden gets two more years at Ducati|first=Matt|last=Beer|work=autosport.com|date=August 29, 2010|access-date=December 24, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100831000855/http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/86224|archive-date=August 31, 2010|url-status=live}} He is joined in the team by his former Honda teammate Valentino Rossi, who also signed a two-year deal, to partner Hayden.{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/motorsport/motorbikes/8886198.stm|title=Valentino Rossi to leave Yamaha for Ducati in 2011|work=BBC Sport|date=August 15, 2010|access-date=December 24, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100826055144/http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/motorsport/motorbikes/8886198.stm|archive-date=August 26, 2010 |url-status=live}}

Hayden's 2011 season started with a ninth-place finish in Qatar, before he achieved a third place at the Spanish round.{{cite news|url=http://www.motorcyclenews.com/MCN/sport/sportresults/MotoGP/2011/April/apr0411JerezMotoGPNickyHaydengratefulforthird/|title=Nicky Hayden grateful for third|first=Matthew|last=Birt|date=April 4, 2011|access-date=December 24, 2012|work=Motor Cycle News}} Having avoided other incidents that eliminated several front-runners from the race, Hayden was aided by a last-lap mechanical failure for Colin Edwards, which caused him to crash out of the race, to take his first podium since the 2010 Aragón race where he also finished in third position.{{cite news|url=http://www.motorcyclenews.com/MCN/sport/sportresults/MotoGP/2011/April/apr0411-edwards-robbed-of-podium/|title=Colin Edwards robbed of podium|first=Matthew|last=Birt|date=April 4, 2011|access-date=December 24, 2012|work=Motor Cycle News}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.crash.net/motogp/race-report/168049/1/lorenzo-wins-crash-crazy-spanish-gp|title=Lorenzo wins crash-crazy Spanish GP|date=April 3, 2011|website=crash.net}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.crash.net/motogp/news/168060/1/edwards-robbed-of-podium-on-last-lap|title=Edwards robbed of podium on last lap|date=April 4, 2011|website=crash.net}}

After his first and only podium of the season at round two, Hayden continued to stay in the points-scoring positions for the next 10 races, including a fastest lap during the British GP. Hayden finished ninth in Portugal, seventh in France, eighth in Catalunya, fourth in Great Britain, fifth in the Netherlands, 10th in Italy, eighth in Germany, seventh twice in the United States and Czech Republic and 14th in Indianapolis. He took top-10 finishes in all but one race, when he finished 14th in his home race at Indianapolis. He finished the race two laps down after making an unscheduled pit stop—having run as high as fifth during the race—after losing grip on his softer-compound Bridgestone front tire, causing a higher amount of wear to the left-hand side of the tire itself.{{cite news|url=http://www.motorcyclenews.com/MCN/sport/sportresults/MotoGP/2011/August/aug2911-hayden-frustrated-in-home-race/|title=Nicky Hayden frustrated in home race|first=Matthew|last=Birt|date=August 29, 2011|access-date=December 24, 2012|work=Motor Cycle News}}

At the San Marino round, Hayden registered his first retirement of the season. During the rain-affected race, Hayden lost the front on the exit of turn 15 and slid out of contention on lap three.{{Cite web|url=https://www.crash.net/motogp/race-report/172729/1/lorenzo-wins-misano-stoner-fades|title=Lorenzo wins Misano, Stoner fades|date=September 4, 2011|website=crash.net}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.crash.net/motogp/news/172784/1/haydens-curse-continues-at-worst-circuit|title=Hayden's curse continues at 'worst circuit'|date=September 5, 2011|website=crash.net}} After Misano, Hayden recorded three consecutive seventh-place finishes in Aragón, Japan and Australia to maintain his eighth place in the riders' championship. The Malaysian Grand Prix—in which Hayden had qualified sixth for—was cancelled after the death of Marco Simoncelli.{{Cite web|url=https://www.crash.net/motogp/news/174321/1/marco-simoncelli-dies-from-sepang-motogp-injuries|title=Marco Simoncelli dies from Sepang MotoGP injuries|date=October 23, 2011|website=crash.net}}

At the final race of the season—the Valencian Community round—Hayden retired once more when he was eliminated, along with teammate Rossi, in a four-bike first-corner collision on the opening lap which was caused by the Suzuki of Álvaro Bautista.{{cite news|url=http://www.motogp.com/en/news/2011/valencia+ricardo+tormo+motogp+race+ducati+rossi+hayden|archive-url=https://archive.today/20130129002138/http://www.motogp.com/en/news/2011/valencia+ricardo+tormo+motogp+race+ducati+rossi+hayden|url-status=dead|archive-date=January 29, 2013|title=Ducati Team out of Valencia GP in Turn one|website=motogp.com|date=November 6, 2011|access-date=December 24, 2012}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.crash.net/motogp/news/174673/1/pictures-first-turn-chaos-at-valencia-motogp|title=PICTURES: First turn chaos at Valencia MotoGP|date=November 6, 2011|website=crash.net}} The incident left Hayden with a broken wrist, and he was forced to miss post-season testing the following week.{{cite news|url=http://www.crash.net/motogp/news/174728/1/nicky_hayden_diagnosed_with_broken_wrist.html|title=Nicky Hayden diagnosed with broken wrist|website=crash.net|date=November 8, 2011|access-date=December 24, 2012}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.crash.net/motogp/news/174728/1/nicky-hayden-diagnosed-with-broken-wrist|title=Nicky Hayden diagnosed with broken wrist|date=November 8, 2011|website=crash.net}}

Hayden finished eighth in the championship with 132 points, 218 points behind the champion Casey Stoner and 128 points behind runner-up Jorge Lorenzo.

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Hayden remained with Ducati for the 2012 season. For the first 10 races, he finished consistently in the points: sixth in Qatar, eighth in Spain, 11th in Portugal, sixth again in France, ninth in Catalunya, seventh in Great Britain, sixth once more in the Netherlands, 10th in Germany, seventh in Italy and sixth for the fourth time at his home race in the United States.

At the Indianapolis round, Hayden had been expecting the best performance to date for the Ducati team, believing it to be well-suited to the track conditions at the circuit.{{cite news|url=http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/101798|title=Nicky Hayden expects Ducati to prosper and score best result of MotoGP season at Indianapolis|first=Matt|last=Beer|work=autosport.com|date=August 14, 2012|access-date=December 24, 2012}} However, Hayden did not take part in the race after suffering an accident at turn 14 during the qualifying session, trying to improve on his qualifying time. As a result, Hayden suffered a concussion in the process, ruling him out of the race.{{cite news|url=http://www.crash.net/motogp/news/182937/1/nicky_hayden_out_of_indianapolis_motogp.html|title=Nicky Hayden out of Indianapolis MotoGP|website=crash.net|date=August 18, 2012|access-date=December 24, 2012}} A fractured right hand also ruled him out of the following race in the Czech Republic.{{cite news|url=http://www.crash.net/motogp/news/183009/1/nicky_hayden_to_miss_brno.html|title=Nicky Hayden to miss Brno|website=crash.net|date=August 21, 2012|access-date=December 24, 2012}}

Although not fully recovered from his injuries, thanks to the support of the official physiotherapist Freddie Dente, Hayden returned for the San Marino GP, where he finished in seventh position.{{cite news|url=http://www.crash.net/motogp/news/183847/1/half-healed_hayden_back_for_misano.html|title=Half-healed Hayden back for Misano|website=crash.net|date=September 11, 2012|access-date=December 24, 2012}}

Hayden failed to finish the Aragon Grand Prix, running wide at the final turn before crashing into a track-side wall at enough speed to launch him over the wall.{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/motogp/19777867|title=Crash throws Nicky Hayden over wall at Aragon MotoGP|work=BBC Sport|date=September 30, 2012|access-date=December 24, 2012}}{{cite news|url=http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/102983|title=Nicky Hayden unhurt in crash|first=Matt|last=Beer|work=autosport.com|date=September 30, 2012|access-date=December 24, 2012}} He finished eighth in Japan and Australia, sandwiching a season's best fourth-place finish at the Malaysian Grand Prix. He crashed out of the final race in Valencia.{{cite news|url=http://www.motogp.com/en/news/2012/spain+valencia+motogp+race+pedrosa|title=Pedrosa wins dramatic Valencian GP as Stoner says goodbye|website=motogp.com|date=November 11, 2012|access-date=December 24, 2012}}

Hayden finished ninth in the championship with 122 points, 228 points behind the champion Jorge Lorenzo and 210 points behind runner-up Dani Pedrosa. This was the first time in his career that he did not get a podium finish during the season.

File:Nicky Hayden 2013 Sachsenring.JPG]]

For the 2013 season, Hayden was joined in the factory Ducati team by Andrea Dovizioso, who moved from the Tech3 Yamaha squad to replace Valentino Rossi, who returned to the factory Yamaha setup.{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/motogp/19348866|title=Ducati confirm Andrea Dovizioso signing|work=BBC Sport|date=August 22, 2012|access-date=December 24, 2012}}{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/motogp/19205254|title=Valentino Rossi to leave Ducati and rejoin Yamaha|work=BBC Sport|date=August 10, 2012|access-date=December 24, 2012}} Hayden had stated that Dovizioso was the "best possible choice" to replace Rossi, prior to him signing a contract.{{cite news|url=http://www.motorcyclenews.com/MCN/sport/sportresults/MotoGP/2012/Dovizioso-good-choice--for-Ducati-says-Hayden/|title=Dovizioso good choice for Ducati, says Hayden|first=Matthew|last=Birt|date=August 16, 2012|access-date=December 24, 2012|work=Motor Cycle News}}

Hayden scored points in the first five races: eighth in Qatar, ninth at the Americas, seventh in Spain, a season-best fifth in France and sixth in Italy.

At round six in Catalunya, Hayden retired for the first time this season. Hayden initially had made up ground, where he went from fifth to eighth, to pass the Pramac Ducati of Andrea Iannone, but would crash out of the race on lap six when the front of his machine let go when he turned into the left-hander at turn 10 after passing Stefan Bradl for fifth place.{{Cite web|url=https://www.crash.net/motogp/race-report/192420/1/lorenzo-victorious-pedrosa-survives-marquez-onslaught|title=Lorenzo victorious, Pedrosa survives Marquez onslaught|date=June 16, 2013|website=crash.net}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.crash.net/motogp/news/192438/1/hayden-dovizioso-look-to-lab-test-after-race-disappointment|title=Hayden, Dovizioso look to 'lab' test after race disappointment|date=June 16, 2013|website=crash.net}}

He finished 11th in the Netherlands, ninth in Germany, eighth at his home race in the United States, ninth again in Indianapolis, eighth twice in the Czech Republic and Great Britain and ninth twice in San Marino and Aragón.

At the Malaysian GP, Hayden retired once more with mechanical problems. Having started in 11th place, he was forced to stop when his engine failed and blew up in a cloud of smoke at the end of lap eight.{{Cite web|url=http://www.motogp.com/en/news/2013/10/15/hayden-left-on-sidelines-with-engine-problem/162795|title=Hayden left on sidelines with engine problem|website=motogp.com}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.crash.net/motogp/race-report/196972/1/pedrosa-victorious-marquez-closes-in-on-title|title=Pedrosa victorious, Marquez closes in on title|date=October 13, 2013|website=crash.net}} After his engine woes in Sepang, Hayden went on to finish the last three races of the season—the Australian, Japanese and Valencian Community rounds—in seventh, ninth and eighth places, respectively.

Hayden finished ninth in the championship with 126 points, 208 points behind the champion Marc Márquez and 204 points behind runner-up Jorge Lorenzo. For the second consecutive season, Hayden did not get a podium finish during the season.

File:20140414IMG 9140 (13901055764).jpg at the 2014 Grand Prix of the Americas]]

It was announced on October 17, 2013, that, after five years with Ducati, Hayden had signed with the Aspar Team for the 2014 season. Hayden partnered Hiroshi Aoyama, who moved from the Avintia Blusens squad, with the pair riding open-specification Honda RCV1000R motorcycles.{{cite news|url=http://www.motogp.com/en/news/2013/aspar+honda+contract|title=Aspar with Honda and Hayden for 2014-15|website=motogp.com|date=October 17, 2013|access-date=October 20, 2013|archive-date=November 9, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141109161206/http://www.motogp.com/en/news/2013/aspar+honda+contract|url-status=dead}}

At the season opening round in Qatar, Hayden finished in the exact same position as where he finished last year, which is in eighth position. In the following three rounds—the Americas, Argentina and Spanish grands prix—he finished eleventh three consecutive times.

At round five of the season in France, Hayden retired for the first time of the season when he came into contact with the Pramac Ducati of Andrea Iannone at the exit of the first turn on the opening lap.{{Cite web|url=https://www.crash.net/motogp/race-report/204600/1/ten-to-one-for-undefeated-marquez-at-le-mans|title=Ten to one for undefeated Marquez at Le Mans|date=May 18, 2014|website=crash.net}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.crash.net/motogp/news/204621/1/hayden-iannone-crutchlow-talk-first-lap-clash|title=Hayden, Iannone, Crutchlow talk first lap clash|date=May 19, 2014|website=crash.net}}

Hayden did not participate at the Italian race due to a wrist injury, which had lingered since the Spanish GP two races earlier.{{cite web|url=http://msn.foxsports.com/speed/motogp/motogp-hayden-to-sit-out-mugello-will-undergo-on-tuesday/|title=MOTOGP: WRIST INJURY FORCES HAYDEN OUT OF MUGELLO RACE|website=foxsports.com|date=May 31, 2014|access-date=May 31, 2014}}{{Cite web|url=http://www.motogp.com/en/news/2014/05/06/hayden-aggravated-by-pain-in-wrist/164049|title=Hayden aggravated by pain in wrist|website=motogp.com}} He expected to return for the next round in Catalunya if the surgery was successful.{{Cite web|url=https://www.crash.net/motogp/news/205189/1/hayden-undergoes-surgery-hopeful-for-catalunya|title=Hayden undergoes surgery, hopeful for Catalunya|date=June 3, 2014|website=crash.net}}

After the surgery had been done without any major problems, Hayden returned in Catalunya where he finished 12th. At the Dutch round, Hayden finished outside of the points for the first time since the 2007 British GP but finished in the points again at the next round in Germany with a 14th place.

Hayden missed the Indianapolis, Czech, British and San Marino rounds due to a second round of surgery on his right wrist in July to remove a set of small bones.{{Cite web|url=http://www.motogp.com/en/news/2014/09/23/hayden-excited-to-return-to-motogp-action/165158|title=Hayden excited to return to MotoGP™ action|website=motogp.com}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.crash.net/motogp/news/208973/1/nicky-hayden-confirmed-for-aragon-return|title=Nicky Hayden confirmed for Aragon return|date=September 23, 2014|website=crash.net}} He returned in Aragón, where he finished ninth in wet-dry conditions which forced him to make a late-race bike swap.{{Cite web|url=https://www.crash.net/motogp/race-report/209152/1/lorenzo-victorious-as-rain-causes-chaos-at-aragon|title=Lorenzo victorious as rain causes chaos at Aragon|date=September 28, 2014|website=crash.net}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.crash.net/motogp/news/209185/1/hayden-back-in-top-ten-on-motogp-return|title=Hayden back in top ten on MotoGP return|date=September 29, 2014|website=crash.net}} This was also his best race result since his opening race result in Losail earlier in the year. In the following two races in Japan and Australia, he finished in 14th and 10th positions, respectively.

At the penultimate round in Malaysia, Hayden registered his second retirement of the year. He crashed out of a top 10 finish at the hairpin.{{Cite web|url=https://www.crash.net/motogp/race-report/210223/1/marquez-matches-doohan-record-with-victory-at-sepang|title=Marquez matches Doohan record with victory at Sepang|date=October 26, 2014|website=crash.net}} At the last race of the season—the Valencian Community GP—Hayden finished in 13th place.

Hayden finished 16th in the championship with 47 points, 315 points behind the champion Marc Márquez and 248 points behind runner-up Valentino Rossi. For the third consecutive season, Hayden did not get a podium finish during the season.

File:Nicky Hayden MotoGP-2015.JPG]]

For the 2015 season, Hayden remained with the Aspar Racing Team, to ride a new open-specification Honda RC213V-RS. He was joined in the team by Eugene Laverty, who moved across from the Superbike World Championship.{{Cite web|url=http://www.motogp.com/en/news/2014/10/02/eugene-laverty-joins-drive-m7-aspar-team-for-2015/165272|title=Eugene Laverty joins DRIVE M7 Aspar Team for 2015|website=motogp.com}}

Hayden had the worst start of the season since he started racing in the MotoGP class in 2004. He finished outside of the points at the opening round in Qatar with a 17th place, but fared better at the Americas where he crossed the line in 13th. However, in the following two rounds—the Argentine and Spanish GPs—Hayden finished outside of the points once more when he finished 16th and 17th. At round five in France, he achieved a season-best finish of 11th place and became the top Open-class rider of the race.{{Cite news|url=https://www.crash.net/motogp/race-report/218946/1/lorenzo-holds-off-rossi-at-le-mans|title=Lorenzo holds off Rossi at Le Mans|date=May 17, 2015|newspaper=Crash}}

At the Italian and Catalan grands prix, Hayden retired two consecutive times. In Mugello, Nicky Hayden crashed out of the race at turn four on the fourth lap and in Catalunya, he was forced wide into the gravel on the opening lap to avoid a collision and then crashed himself on the 14th lap at turn five. Later he stated that he was "annoyed and frustrated" for making so many mistakes that cost him from obtaining a better result at this race.{{Cite web|url=http://www.motogp.com/en/news/2015/06/15/hayden-i-am-annoyed-with-myself/178142|title=Hayden: "I am annoyed with myself"|website=motogp.com}}

Hayden failed to score any points for the next four consecutive races—three consecutive 16th positions in the Netherlands, Germany and Indianapolis and one 17th position in the Czech Republic. At round 12 in Great Britain, Hayden finished in 12th place, before failing to score any points once more at the next round in San Marino after finishing in 17th place. In Aragón and Japan, Hayden would score the last points of his MotoGP career by finishing in 15th and 13th places.

At the Australian round, he would retire for the third time this season. He was forced to retire due to technical problems with the bike.{{Cite web|url=https://ultimatemotorcycling.com/2015/10/18/2015-phillip-island-motogp-results-australia-gp-recap/|title=2015 Phillip Island MotoGP Results | Australia GP Recap|first=Ron|last=Lieback|date=October 18, 2015|website=ultimatemotorcycling.com|access-date=July 24, 2019|archive-date=September 8, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210908173459/https://ultimatemotorcycling.com/2015/10/18/2015-phillip-island-motogp-results-australia-gp-recap/|url-status=dead}} At the last two rounds of the season in Malaysia and at the Valencian Community, he finished in 16th and 17th positions.

File:Nicky Hayden and Jack Miller 2016 Phillip Island.jpg at the 2016 Australian Grand Prix]]

Hayden moved to the Superbike World Championship in 2016, but made two one-off spot starts when Honda riders were injured at the 2016 season.

After Estrella Galicia 0,0 Marc VDS star Jack Miller was ruled out for the Aragón round, Hayden was called by Honda in a substitute role.{{Cite web|url=http://www.motogp.com/en/news/2016/09/19/hayden-to-replace-miller-at-aragongp/211008|title=Hayden to replace Miller at #AragonGP|website=motogp.com|date=September 19, 2016 }}{{Cite web|url=http://www.worldsbk.com/en/news/2016/Hayden+confirmed+for+MotoGP+Aragon+ride|title=Hayden confirmed for MotoGP™ Aragon ride|website=worldsbk.com}} He finished the race in 15th position, ensuring that he had scored at least one point in 14 consecutive seasons—every MotoGP season he had so far participated in. He said that he underestimated the task of adapting to the new Michelin tires but that his progress through the weekend was such that he was left longing to qualify and race again.{{Cite web|url=https://www.crash.net/motogp/news/233941/1/hayden-i-wish-i-could-qualify-and-race-again|title=Hayden: I wish I could qualify and race again!|date=September 26, 2016|website=crash.net}}

After Dani Pedrosa was ruled out of racing at the Australian GP due to a broken collarbone he sustained after high-siding during practice for the Japanese round, Hayden was called to replace him for this round. marking his return to the squad since 2008. He finished outside of the points in 17th position after a collision with Jack Miller at turn four fighting for 9th place late in the race —who he had replaced just two rounds earlier—made him slide into the gravel and outside the points.{{Cite web|url=https://www.crash.net/motogp/race-report/234687/1/crutchlow-victorious-at-phillip-island|title=Crutchlow victorious at Phillip Island|date=October 23, 2016|website=crash.net}}

On October 8, 2015, it was announced – at the pre-race press conference for the Japanese Grand Prix – that Hayden would move to the Superbike World Championship for the {{SBK|2016}} season. Hayden replaced Sylvain Guintoli at the Ten Kate Racing-run Honda squad, alongside Michael van der Mark.{{cite news|url=http://www.worldsbk.com/en/news/2015/Honda+announces+2016+World+Superbike+riders|title=Honda announces 2016 World Superbike riders|date=October 8, 2015|access-date=October 11, 2015|work=Superbike World Championship}}

After strong pre-season testing results, Hayden finished his first race weekend with ninth and fourth at Phillip Island. At Assen, round four, Hayden scored his first podium finish with a third place in the opening race, running with the leaders before backing off in the closing stages.{{cite news|url=http://www.crash.net/wsbk/news/229571/1/hayden-smiles-after-longawaited-rostrum-return.html|title=Hayden smiles after long-awaited rostrum return|website=crash.net|date=April 19, 2016|access-date=August 14, 2016}} At Sepang, round six, Hayden qualified fourth on the grid behind the Kawasakis of Jonathan Rea and Tom Sykes, and the Yamaha of Alex Lowes. After an eighth place in the first race, Hayden made a good start in the damp conditions of the second race, and overtook Lowes into turn two, before challenging the Kawasakis for the lead. Hayden went around the outside of Sykes into turn five and followed Rea for the majority of the lap, making a strong move into the penultimate corner. Hayden established a four-second gap over Rea and the now chasing Ducatis of Chaz Davies and Davide Giugliano. As the race entered the last 10 laps, Giugliano moved into second ahead of Rea and Davies, halving Hayden's lead with four laps to go. Giugliano was one second behind coming onto the final lap but Hayden held the gap to win his first World Superbike race, taking Honda's first win of the season in the process.{{cite news|url=http://www.crash.net/wsbk/race-report/230362/1/nicky-hayden-claims-debut-wsbk-victory.html|title=Nicky Hayden claims debut WSBK victory|website=crash.net|date=May 15, 2016|access-date=August 14, 2016}}

File:Nicky Hayden - Phillip Island 2017.jpg in 2017]]

Hayden remained at Ten Kate Honda (now known as the Red Bull Honda World Superbike Team) for the 2017 season, partnered by Stefan Bradl. A slow start to the season saw mixed results and three retirements. His best result on the season was a seventh-place finish in Thailand. Hayden's final race was the second race of the Motul Italian Round held on May 14, 2017, where he finished in 12th place. He was in 13th place overall in the championship at the time of his death.

The FIM named him a Legend in November 2015 prior to the Valencian Grand Prix.{{cite news|url=http://www.motogp.com/en/news/2015/11/06/nicky-hayden-becomes-motogp-legend/189085|title=Nicky Hayden becomes MotoGP Legend|website=motogp.com|date=November 6, 2015|access-date=August 14, 2016}}

In 2017, the AMA Horizon Award was renamed in honor of Nicky Hayden. The Nicky Hayden AMA Horizon Award is presented annually to outstanding amateur rides in dirt track, motocross and road racing.{{Cite web|url=https://www.americanmotorcyclist.com/Home/News-Story/ama-horizon-award-re-named-in-honor-of-inaugural-winner-and-2006-motogp-world-champion-nicky-hayden|title=AMA Horizon Award re-named in honor of inaugural winner and 2006 MotoGP World Champion Nicky Hayden|date=27 June 2017|publisher=Press Release - American Motorcyclist Association (AMA)|access-date=2018-05-12|archive-date=May 13, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180513151932/https://www.americanmotorcyclist.com/Home/News-Story/ama-horizon-award-re-named-in-honor-of-inaugural-winner-and-2006-motogp-world-champion-nicky-hayden|url-status=dead}}

During the 2018 Red Bull Grand Prix of the Americas at Circuit of The Americas, Nicky Hayden's number, 69, was spray painted on turn 18 and officially renamed, "Hayden Hill" in honor of the former American racer.{{Cite web|url=http://www.motogp.com/en/news/2018/04/20/turn-18-renamed-hayden-hill-in-honour-of-nicky-hayden/255330|title=Turn 18 renamed Hayden Hill in honour of Nicky Hayden|website=motogp.com|date=April 19, 2018 |language=en|access-date=2019-02-19}}

On June 8, 2018, the City of Owensboro unveiled the Nicky Hayden Memorial Sculpture honoring the late Owensboro native champion.{{Cite web|url=https://visitowensboro.com/event/nicky-hayden-memorial-unveiling/|title=Nicky Hayden Memorial Unveiling (2018-06-08)|website=visitowensboro.com|language=en-US|access-date=2019-02-19|archive-date=February 20, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190220062909/https://visitowensboro.com/event/nicky-hayden-memorial-unveiling/|url-status=dead}} The bronze sculpture was commissioned by the city and the Hayden family, and created by George Lundeen.{{Cite web|url=http://www.motogp.com/en/news/2018/06/09/nicky-hayden-statue-unveiled-in-owensboro/261759|title=Nicky Hayden statue unveiled in Owensboro|website=motogp.com|date=June 9, 2018 |language=en|access-date=2019-02-19}}

In 2018, Mayor of Owensboro, Tom Watson declared June 9 as Nicky Hayden Day, representing his racing number 69.{{Cite web|url=http://www.owensboro.org/post/city-of-owensboro-to-honor-nicky-hayden-with-sculpture?embed=0|title=City of Owensboro to Honor Nicky Hayden with Sculpture - City of Owensboro|website=owensboro.org|access-date=2019-02-19}}

In 2018, the AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame bypassed the traditional five-year rule for a competitor to be retired, and Nicky Hayden was voted as a 2018 inductee into their Hall of Fame.

In 2021, Hayden was inducted into the Motorsports Hall of Fame of America.

• Team(s): Repsol Honda, Ducati Corse, Drive M7 Aspar Team, Estrella Galicia 0,0 Marc VDS
• Motorcycle(s): Honda RC211V, Honda RC212V, Ducati Desmosedici, Honda RCV1000R, Honda RC213V-RS, Honda RC213V
• First MotoGP Race: April 6, 2003 – Suzuka – Seventh Place
• First MotoGP Podium: October 5, 2003 – Motegi – Third Place
• First MotoGP Win: July 10, 2005 – Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca
• Number of MotoGP Wins: 3
• Number of MotoGP Podiums: 28
• Highest Championship Position: First Place (2006)

• Team(s): American Honda, Honda World Superbike Team
• Motorcycle(s): Honda RC51, Honda CBR1000RR
• First Superbike Race: July 14, 2002 – Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca – Fourth Place
• First Superbike Podium: April 16, 2016 – Assen – Third Place
• First Superbike Win: May 15, 2016 – Sepang
• Number of Superbike Wins: 1
• Number of Superbike Podiums: 4
• Highest Championship Position: Fifth Place (2016)

• Team(s): American Honda, HRC
• Motorcycle(s): Honda RC51, Honda RC45
• First Superbike Race: April 18, 1999 – Willow Springs International Raceway – 12th Place
• First Superbike Win: June 11, 2000 – Road America
• First Superbike Podium: September 19, 1999 – Pikes Peak International Raceway – Third Place
• Number of Superbike Wins: 17
• Number of Superbike Podiums: 30
• Highest Championship Position: First Place (2002)

• Team(s): American Honda, Erion Honda, HyperCycle Suzuki
• Motorcycle(s): Honda CBR600F3, Honda CBR600F4, Suzuki GSX-R600
• First 600 Supersport Win: April 26, 1998 – Willow Springs International Raceway
• Number of 600 Supersport Wins: 6
• Highest Championship Position: First Place (1999)

• Team(s): HyperCycle Suzuki
• Motorcycle(s): Suzuki GSX-R750
• First 750 Supersport Win: April 19, 1998 – Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca
• Number of 750 Supersport Wins: 5
• Highest Championship Position: Fourth Place (1998)

• Team(s): Erion Honda
• Motorcycle(s): Honda CBR900RR
• First Formula Extreme Win: April 26, 1999 – Willow Springs International Raceway
• Number of Formula Extreme Wins: 7
• Highest Championship Position: Second Place (1999)

(key) (Races in bold indicate pole position; races in italics indicate fastest lap)

(key) (Races in bold indicate pole position; races in italics indicate fastest lap)

(key) (Races in bold indicate pole position; races in italics indicate fastest lap)

Hayden was born into a Roman Catholic family with which he retained a strong connection throughout his entire life, even living in an apartment above his family while the rest of the MotoGP riders lived in Europe.{{cite web|url=http://classic.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/129797|title=Hayden funeral details announced|website=classic.autosport.com|date=27 May 2017|access-date=30 May 2017}} He had two brothers, Tommy and Roger Lee, both professional motorcycle racers, and two sisters, Jenny and Kathleen. In 2010, Tommy raced in the AMA, and Roger Lee competed in the Superbike World Championship.

His traditional racing number, 69, was the same number his father Earl used. His father jokes that the number was selected because it could still be read when he frequently ended up upside down in the dirt.

Hayden became engaged to Jackie Marin in May 2016.{{cite tweet|user=Jackiemmarin|number=732680307846057984|date=May 17, 2016|title=It's been a good week 💍 #Venice #PonteDiRialto|author=Jackie Marin}}

On May 17, 2017, Hayden was hit by a driver while riding his bicycle near Rimini, Italy.{{Cite web|url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/motor/2017/05/17/superbike-race-nicky-hayden-hit-by-car-bicycle-italy/101803180/|title=American Superbike rider Nicky Hayden hit by car while cycling|website=USA Today|access-date=2017-05-18}} Hayden was riding alone at the time of the accident which took place at around 14:00 CEST (UTC+2). Earlier in the morning Hayden was out running with Kevin Schwantz. He invited Schwantz to ride with him in the afternoon but Schwantz declined as he did not have a bicycle on hand.{{Cite web|url=https://www.gpone.com/en/2017/05/22/sbk/schwantz-sensational-revelation-i-should-have-been-riding-with-hayden.html|title=SBK, Schwantz, sensational revelation: "I should have been riding with Hayden"|website=GPOne.com|language=en|access-date=2017-05-25}} Hayden then rode briefly with his friend Denis Pazzaglini at some point in the early afternoon. Hayden's final Instagram photo shows the two together.{{Cite web|url=https://www.instagram.com/p/BUKolt_jeNM/ |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/iarchive/instagram/nicky_hayden/1516202738429322060 |archive-date=2021-12-23 |url-access=subscription|title=Nicky Hayden's Final Instagram Photo|website=Instagram|language=en|access-date=2017-05-23}}{{cbignore}}

The crash occurred at the intersection of Via Ca' Raffaelli and Via Tavoleto in Misano Adriatico. Hayden was traveling west on Via Ca' Raffaelli when he was struck by a Peugeot 206 CC as he entered the street to cross Via Tavoleto. According to Italian newspaper La Gazzetta dello Sport, a home surveillance camera installed several metres away from the intersection recorded the entire accident. Hayden apparently did not halt at a stop sign and was possibly distracted by his iPod which was found by investigators at the scene of the crash.{{Cite web|url=http://www.gazzetta.it/Moto/moto-GP/22-05-2017/hayden-emerge-video-cause-incidente-200476164367.shtml|title=Hayden, spunta un video sull'incidente: non si sarebbe fermato allo stop (Hayden, a video about the accident surfaces: he didn't halt at a stop sign )|website=La Gazzetta dello Sport|language=it|access-date=2017-05-22}}

The driver of the car stated that he was on his way to work when Hayden passed through a stop sign and suddenly appeared in front of him. He was unable to avoid a collision.{{Cite web|url=https://www.todocircuito.com/noticias/14652-atropello-nicky-hayden-italia.html|title=El conductor que arrolló a Hayden asegura que éste se saltó un STOP y no pudo hacer nada|website=TodoCircuito.com|language=es|access-date=2017-05-19}} The speed of the car was not known but the impact of Hayden slamming into the windshield was strong enough to completely shatter it and dent down the roof of the car. Hayden's bicycle was found in the nearby ditch with its frame snapped in half.{{Cite web|url=https://www.gpone.com/en/2017/05/17/sbk/nicky-hayden-the-photos-of-the-terrible-accident.html|title=SBK, Nicky Hayden, The photos of the terrible accident|website=GPOne.com|language=en|access-date=2017-05-19}} Riccione Municipal Police are in possession of the crash video and the result of their investigation was expected to be reported some time in July.{{Cite web|url=https://www.gpone.com/en/2017/05/22/sbk/nicky-hayden-accident-shocking-video-emerges.html|title=SBK, Nicky Hayden accident, shocking video emerges|website=GPOne.com|language=en|access-date=2017-05-25}}

Hayden was taken to Rimini hospital with severe injuries, and was subsequently moved to the major trauma unit at the Maurizio Bufalini Hospital in Cesena for possible surgery. Hayden's injuries were so severe that he was not placed into a medically induced coma and did not receive any surgery. Whether Hayden was at all conscious or in a natural coma during his last days is not known.{{Cite web|url=http://www.roadracingworld.com/news/nicky-hayden-earl-hayden-decries-fake-news/|title=Nicky Hayden: Earl Hayden Decries Fake News|website=roadracingrorld.com|date=May 19, 2017 |language=en|access-date=2017-05-19}}

The extent of Hayden's injuries was described as polytrauma including a traumatic brain injury that resulted in severe cerebral damage.{{Cite web|url=http://www.skynews.com.au/news/top-stories/2017/05/23/motogp-star-hayden-dies-after-bicycle-crash.html|title=MotoGP star Hayden dies after bicycle crash|website=Sky News Australia|language=en|access-date=2017-05-23|archive-date=May 22, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170522222039/http://www.skynews.com.au/news/top-stories/2017/05/23/motogp-star-hayden-dies-after-bicycle-crash.html|url-status=dead}} He also suffered a broken femur, broken pelvis, and multiple fractured vertebrae. As a result of the injuries, Hayden was placed on life support in an intensive care unit.{{Cite web|url=http://www.repubblica.it/sport/vari/2017/05/17/news/superbike_hayden_investito_in_bici_e_in_gravi_condizioni-165666368/|title=Superbike, Hayden investito in bici: danno cerebrale preoccupante|website=La Repubblica|date=May 17, 2017 |language=it|access-date=2017-05-18}} After no signs of recovery, Hayden died in the hospital on May 22, 2017, five days after the accident.{{Cite web|url=http://www.repubblica.it/sport/vari/2017/05/22/news/hayden_morte_incidente-165755786/|title=Hayden non ce l'ha fatta: il pilota è morto dopo 5 giorni di coma|website=La Repubblica|date=May 22, 2017 |language=it|access-date=2017-05-22}}{{Cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2017/may/22/nicky-hayden-dies-bike-crash-motogp-superbikes|title=Nicky Hayden, former MotoGP world champion, dies five days after bike crash |newspaper=The Guardian|language=en|access-date=2017-05-22}}{{Cite web|url=http://www.motofire.com/2017/05/news/official-statement-nicky-hayden-died-injuries/|title=Official Statement: Nicky Hayden has died from his injuries|website=motofire.com|language=en|access-date=2017-05-23|archive-date=May 22, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170522182236/http://www.motofire.com/2017/05/news/official-statement-nicky-hayden-died-injuries/|url-status=dead}} He was 35 years old.

In September 2017, results of the accident investigation were released.{{cite web |url=https://www.revzilla.com/common-tread/italian-officials-release-report-on-fatal-nicky-hayden-crash |title=Italian officials release report on fatal Nicky Hayden crash |first=Mark |last=Gardiner |website=revzilla.com |date=September 28, 2017 |access-date=December 28, 2017}} The report placed 70 percent blame on the driver, and 30 percent blame on Hayden. The report said that the car was traveling at approximately {{convert|73|kph|mph}} in a {{convert|50|kph|mph}} zone, and there was no indication that the driver braked prior to colliding with Hayden. Hayden had been traveling at {{convert|20|kph|mph}}, and entered the intersection without heeding the stop sign.

• Daijiro Kato
• Grand Prix motorcycle racing

{{reflist}}

{{commons category}}

• {{sports links}}
• {{official website}}
• [http://www.motorcycle-usa.com/528/Motorcycles/Nicky-Hayden.aspx Nicky Hayden] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141025084405/http://www.motorcycle-usa.com/528/Motorcycles/Nicky-Hayden.aspx |date=October 25, 2014 }} – MotoGP Rider Biography at Motorcycle-USA

{{s-start}}

{{succession box |

| before = Steve Crevier

| after = Kurtis Roberts

| title = AMA Supersport 600 Champion

| years = 1999

}}

{{s-end}}

{{Repsol Honda}}

{{500 cc/MotoGP Motorcycle World Champions}}

{{MotoGP Legends}}

{{AMA Superbike Champions}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Hayden, Nicky}}

Category:1981 births

Category:2017 deaths

Category:AMA Superbike Championship riders

Category:American motorcycle racers

Category:Ducati Corse MotoGP riders

Category:Honda HRC MotoGP riders

Category:Sportspeople from Owensboro, Kentucky

Category:Superbike World Championship riders

Category:Supersport World Championship riders

Category:Road incident deaths in Italy

Category:Cycling road incident deaths

Category:People with severe brain damage

Category:Aspar Racing Team MotoGP riders

Category:Marc VDS Racing Team MotoGP riders

Category:Catholics from Kentucky

Category:MotoGP World Championship riders

Category:AMA Grand National Championship riders

Category:MotoGP World Riders' Champions