2006 Grand Prix motorcycle racing season
The 2006 Grand Prix motorcycle racing season was the 58th Fédération Internationale de Motocyclisme (FIM) Road racing World Championship season. The season consisted out of 17 races for the MotoGP class and 16 for the 125cc and 250cc classes, beginning with the Spanish motorcycle Grand Prix on 26 March 2006 and ending with the Valencian Community motorcycle Grand Prix on 29 October.
Nicky Hayden celebrating his world championship title at the 2006 Valencian Community Grand Prix
Jorge Lorenzo (pictured in 2007) became the 250cc World Champion
Álvaro Bautista (pictured in 2009) became the 125cc World Champion
Nicholas Patrick Hayden, nicknamed "The Kentucky Kid", was an American professional motorcycle racer who won the MotoGP World Championship in 2006. Hayden began racing motorcycles at a young age. He began his road racing career in the CMRA before progressing to the AMA Supersport Championship and then to the AMA Superbike Championship. He won the AMA title in 2002 and was approached by the Repsol Honda team to race for them in MotoGP in 2003.
Hayden in 2016
Nicky Hayden Honda RC51 Superbike
Valentino Rossi (pictured left) and Nicky Hayden on the podium at the 2003 Australian Grand Prix
Hayden at the 2004 Australian Grand Prix