Encinitas CA— Nicky Hayden, AKA “The Kentucky Kid”, was an American Icon with many professional motorcycle racing accolades; most notably the Moto GP World Championship title – won on American soil – in 2006. He began his road-racing career at a young age in the CMRA series before progressing to the AMA Supersport Championship, and then on 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 Moto GP, where he continued to push the limits of the sport and his achievements. Hayden inspired millions with his natural talents on a bike and his easygoing smile.
The motorcycle community was rocked on May 17, 2017 when news broke of Nicky Hayden’s tragic passing as a result of a collision with a motorist while training on his bicycle in Italy. The loss of such a bright star has affected so many. Nicky was so much more than a racer; he was a son, a brother, a fiancé, a friend, and a role model to many. Wanting to keep his memory alive and continue to spread the positive messages that were important to Nicky, his family has started the Nicky Hayden Memorial Fund. Nicky loved where he came from, loved to give back, and cared deeply about supporting children. The fund was set up in order to help local children in the community he loved so much. You can support the fund by making a donation [here].
Specialized was in the process of creating a custom S-Works Venge ViAS road bicycle for Nicky Hayden at the time of the accident. Bicycles riding is an essential part of most professional motorcycle athletes’ training programs and Nicky was an extremely avid cyclist. The component spec on this bike features the absolute best for the true champion that Nicky was, including the brand-new Shimano Dura Ace Di2 R9170 electronic drivetrain with hydraulic disc brakes, Roval CLX 50 Limited Edition carbon fiber wheels with gold outline graphics, Specialized SWorks Venge ViAS Special Edition Peter Sagan World Champion Frame set, and every other bell and whistle you would expect to find on an SWorks, Tour de France-level pro road bike. This bike is valued at approximately $10,000 USD.
The Hayden family wanted Nicky’s bicycle to be shared with the world and would love for it to end up with one of Nicky’s fans. They decided a fundraiser to benefit the Nicky Hayden Memorial Fund would be a great way to accomplish this. The Hayden family has teamed up with Specialized, Shimano and The Road 2 Recovery Foundation to offer a truly one-of-a-kind bicycle for raffle, with 100% of proceeds going to The Nicky Hayden Memorial Fund. To participate, go to nickyhaydenmemorialraffle.com and with a minimum donation of $5 for a ticket, you can get enter for a chance to win. This two-month long raffle is open worldwide with free shipping to the winner courtesy of Specialized. The raffle closes on December 29th, 2017. The winner will be pulled and announced on Saturday, January 6th, 2018 on Road 2 Recovery’s Facebook and Instagram live stream @Road2Recovery.
This one-of-a-kind Venge ViAS was designed specifically to fit Nicky Hayden and meet his training needs; however, some parts can potentially be modified to suit riders ranging in height from approximately 5’6” to nearly 6’ tall. The Venge ViAS is a high-performance racing bicycle with servicing required by a mechanic who has undergone specified training protocols. Any desired fit adjustments should be performed by an authorized Specialized retailer, and any associated expenses are the responsibility of the raffle winner.
About Road 2 Recovery
The Road 2 Recovery Foundation is a 501 (c) 3 non-profit organization that was founded in 2000, and is dedicated to helping AMA licensed Professional Motocross/Supercross riders and Action Sports Athletes with financial assistance if they sustain career-ending injuries as well as providing motivational, emotional, and spiritual support to these individuals and their families. To make a donation click [here]. For more information on Road 2 Recovery and upcoming events visit www.road2recovery.com
About Specialized
Specialized Bicycle Components was founded in 1974 by riders for riders. Based in Northern California, we focus on the rider’s need for functional and technically advanced products that provide a performance benefit.