SAINT NICK
The 2006 MotoGP World Champion is standing in a corral petting a pair of miniature donkeys that have no names. The donkeys share a field with a miniature pony, llamas, and horses.
“My dad likes animals,” Nicky Hayden says, the evanescent smile that lit up podiums around the world lighting up the Kentucky afternoon. “We had a deer for a while,” his brother, Roger, says, sadly adding, “the dog killed it.”
This is life on Earls Lane, Owensboro, Kentucky, the refuge of the 2006 world champion Nicky Hayden. When he isn’t racing or testing he returns as quickly as possible and stays until the next flight’s called.
This is home; for Nicky it’s above a three-car garage across the driveway from where he grew up. Roger Lee has a house that abuts the 25 acres owned by parents Earl and Rose. Nicky and Tommy, who live a couple of kilometres down the road, own the back 79 acres.
Next to Nicky’s flat is Sunset Downs — the name Earl gave the TT and short tracks where the boys practice nearly full-time when they’re home. Earl times every lap, noting the track and weather conditions. On the back of the door are the lap records: Short track left, 13.23 seconds, NH (Nicky Hayden), 25/02/06. Roger has the short track right record of 13.24 seconds.
Nicky’s built a trophy room just off the garage. The leathers, boots, gloves, and helmets from
