American Honda’s Nicky Hayden has donated a set of his leathers to be auctioned off for the benefit of the Roadracing World Air Fence Fund.
“I’ve been reading all of the reports on Roadracingworld.com about the Air Fence and how it was saving all of these guys,” said Hayden in a phone call to Roadracing World. “I thought that it was about time that I pulled my weight. I mean the stuff is out there to protect me, too. I hope that I don’t ever have to use it, but one of my friends might need it. I thought that I could just donate some money, but I thought that this might create a little more energy. Plus it might make a nice Christmas gift for somebody.”
Hayden has donated a set of his Joe Rocket race leathers to be auctioned off with 100% of the proceeds going to the Roadracing World Air Fence Fund.
The set of Joe Rocket leathers contributed by Hayden were worn during the 2001 AMA Chevy Trucks Superbike race season. The suit has “The Kid – 69” lettered across the seat area, Nicky’s personal leopard logo on the left hip, “Nicky” in chrome letters across the aero-hump with Nicky’s autograph in permanent marker just below. The leathers have not been crashed in but have drag marks on the left elbow, left knee and left hip from where Hayden touched the pavement at Mid-Ohio. The suit also comes with used knee sliders.
Hayden wore the suit when he won his first of four-races-in-a-row to end the 2001 AMA Superbike season.
The suit is in near-new condition.
Moto Liberty’s Audrey Menarik, a collector of racing leathers, told Roadracing World that Nicky’s suit should go for a nice price.
“Nicky’s the man right now,” said Menarik from her Dallas-based business. “I would say $3000 to $3500, maybe even more. Let me know when they go up. I’ll be in on the bidding.”
Auction details will be announced this week.