MotoGP – Number 69 to be retired from Grand Prix racing

Bruno Gomes

January 24, 2019

Nicky Hayden | Photo credits: Circuit Ricardo Tormo

Dorna announced they will retire the number 69 from Grand Prix racing, in memory of American rider Nicky Hayden, who passed away tragically after an accident while training on the road in Misano, in 2017. The moment will happen at the next Americas GP, in Texas.

The number 69 has always been associated with Nicky Hayden, since he began racing in flat-track, with just three years old. The Kentucky Kid, as Hayden was also known, retained the #69 throughout his entire career, also paying respect to his father Earl Hayden.

Now, MotoGP organizers have declared that the number 69 won’t be used by any other rider in Grand Prix racing, something that left Earl Hayden touched

“For Nicky it will be a great honor to see the #69 retired in Austin. It’s appropriated that this is done in a race in America, since these circuits meant a lot to him. For me in particular, this will be a very important moment, since I also used number 69 and I felt very produ to see Nicky race the same number. In name of the family, I would like to say thank you to Dorna for honoring Nicky in this special way”.

The Americas GP in Austin, Texas, will be held on April 12 to April 14, and MotoGP will have a special ceremony to mark this important moment when the iconic number 69 of Nicky Hayden is retired from Grand Prix racing forever.