Sculpture honouring Nicky Hayden to be unveiled in Kentucky

A sculpture of the 2006 Champion will be unveiled in Owensboro, and June 9th – 6/9 – will be named Nicky Hayden day

The Hayden family – the parents, siblings, and fiancée of the late Nicky Hayden, along with members of his extended family – have announced an unveiling ceremony for a sculpture honouring late, great ‘Kentucky Kid’ set to be erected in his hometown of Owensboro, KY. Created by George Lundeen of Lundeen Sculpture in Loveland, Colorado, the bronze statue was commissioned in partnership with the city to remember the 2006 MotoGP™ World Champion, who tragically passed away in May 2017.

Nicky Hayden

The sculpture recreates the American’s celebratory lap of Laguna Seca following his Championship-year victory there on July 23, 2006, and his likeness will hold aloft an actual American flag. The work will be unveiled on June 8 at 5:30 p.m. on the front lawn of the Owensboro Convention Center, and Mayor Tom Watson will read a proclamation declaring the following day (June 9, or 6/9), Nicky Hayden Day.

“Nicky left us just under a year ago, and we still miss him every day,” said Tommy Hayden, Nicky’s older brother. “We appreciate the support that his fans have given our family during the past 12 months, and we look forward to seeing many of them as we unveil this beautiful tribute to Nicky. We would like to thank the City of Owensboro for their support on this project. Nicky loved this city and took great pride in representing it in a positive way, so it's appropriate that he'll be memorialized here.”

“It is with great pride that we as a community have the opportunity to continue ‘The Kentucky Kid’s’ legacy in his hometown,” Mayor Watson said. “We will have a lasting memorial to commemorate his accomplishments to not only OBKY but to the world. I want to thank the Hayden family for allowing us to partner with them on this truly eventful day.”