MotoGP, Farewell to Earl Hayden, the patriarch of America's most racing family

Earl Hayden passed away in his hometown, Owensboro, where a street had already been named after his family near their property.

A family raised in racing, with weekends spent on dirt roads of dirt tracks with his three children, Tommy, Nicky, and Roger.

The Hayden saga in the USA is a legend. If it’s true that three-time World Champion (from ’78 to ’80), King Kenny Roberts brought his son, Kenny Junior, to the 500 title,  having his sons race (and his daughter too!) was something even more special for Earl.

This is why when Nicky won the MotoGP World Championship in 2006, he was especially joyous.

Earl Hayden was a reserved person and also soft-spoken in the paddock. He would stand out of the way in  the pits, and even when Nicky had his infamous accident with Pedrosa, which almost made him lose the world title, Hayden senior didn't say a word.

Earl had been battling an illness for many years and had recently been discharged from the hospital so that he could spend the holidays with his family. 

GPOne.com sends its condolences to the family.

Obituary