Crash

May 23rd, 2017 at 1:34 PM ^

I got into a big argument over on a motocross forum (I grew up racing motocross) about this.  It really sucks to hear this, but I just can't get over how many people risk their lives out on the road with so many distracted drivers.

Crash

May 23rd, 2017 at 1:47 PM ^

Yeah the username is from way way back joining my very first forum (another motocross forum).  I grew up on two wheels, but you'll never catch me on the street.  The size and speed difference between anything on two wheels vs anything on 4 wheels is WAY too much.

What boggles my mind is how militant the avid cyclists are about the law.  They love to quote the law verbatim to you all the time, but I have never once argued what the law was.  For me it's more about common sense and physics.

Birdman

May 23rd, 2017 at 3:24 PM ^

He was training, which might surprise, well anyone that hasn't ever tried racing a motor cycle, and this would have been a part of his daily routine. The real surprising part is that it is extremely common where he was for cyclist to be on the road and generally European drivers are more alert to cyclists. I hate to say it but Nicky was probably cutting a blind corner based on how he went through the windshield apparently.

RKelly22

May 23rd, 2017 at 3:50 PM ^

From things I've read, it sounds like there's a possibility that Nicky blew through a stop sign and could've been distracted by his iPod. I guess there's video that supports this, also no charges to the driver of the car.

Godspeed #69

Grampy

May 23rd, 2017 at 2:09 PM ^

RIP, Nicky. While Mr. Hayden was our most recent champion (2006), other MotoGP (500cc) champions from the US are:

Kenny *The King" Roberts.
Freddie Spencer
Eddie Lawson
Wayne Rainey
Kevin Schwartz
Kenny Roberts, Jr.

Grampy

May 23rd, 2017 at 5:29 PM ^

A little research shows the OP was correct, at least in the sense that MotoGP (the largest class of bikes in FIM world championship racing) replaced/renamed the previous heavyweight class when they increased the displacement to 990cc in 2002. So Nicky Hayden was indeed our only MotoGP champion. My response was based on past world champions in whatever FIM's big boy class was at the time, i.e the generally acknowledged 'world champion' of motorcycle Gran Prix. The are all the most manly of men, but Kenny Roberts was the manliest. He was our first ever world champion, and he won his on a 2-stroke Yamaha with way more power than the frame/chassis could handle. He taught those European dandies a thing or two about how to corner fast by using American flat track techniques on GP road circuits. Basically, he introduced trail braking into corners to get the rear of the bike rotating and using the throttle to power the bike around the corner. He needed a wheelbarrow to carry his balls around.

ramenboy

May 23rd, 2017 at 6:34 PM ^

no worries.  to be honest, I only started following 2 wheeled motorsports in the early '00s when I bought my sportbike (which has long since been traded in for a baby crib, alas), so my knowledge of MotoGP was bookended by Valentino Rossi's dominance.

 

Birdman

May 23rd, 2017 at 2:54 PM ^

An all time favourite of mine. He may have loved the European lifestyle but he never scrubbed his down the holler roots. Always beeming ear to ear, ever grateful he got to race for a living. Was looking forward to see him try for a mile flatrack victory when he tried again. Just crushed to hear how this happened. Keep smiling kid.#69

softshoes

May 23rd, 2017 at 2:55 PM ^

Just heard on radio former NFL player Cortez Kennedy was found dead iin his home. No foul play suspected. Sympathies to all family/friends.

 

/no intent to threadjack.