American Honda Played A Big Role In Bringing Nicky Hayden Back To Team Red

In late 2013, American Honda was presented with an opportunity to bring Nicky Hayden back to the Honda family, and renew the relationship that started in 1999 when Hayden was just 17. By retaining Hayden’s services to ride the Honda RCV1000R in the MotoGP World Championship series for the DRIVE M7 Aspar Team in the 2014 and 2015 seasons, American Honda is also now a proud sponsor of the DRIVE M7 Aspar Team.

His first MotoGP season (2003) saw Hayden finish fifth in the championship on the Repsol Honda RC211V and win Rookie of the Year honors. “The Kentucky Kid” continued to learn the MotoGP ropes in 2004 and 2005, and in 2006 achieved a lifelong dream of becoming the MotoGP world champion. Hayden stayed with Repsol Honda, helping the team develop the new 800cc RC212V through the 2007 and 2008 seasons.

With three MotoGP wins, 28 podium finishes and a world championship on his mantel, Hayden’s return to Honda for the 2014 MotoGP season aboard the production RCV1000R is a homecoming that Honda fans can celebrate when Hayden rolls out onto the Circuit of the Americas this weekend for the second MotoGP race of the season, April 11 – 13.

By Troy Siahaan