Easily one of, if not the most loved, MotoGP riders ever was Nicky Hayden, affectionately known as “The Kentucky Kid”. He was the last US MotoGP champion, and he wore his country’s colors with pride as often as possible, but the respect for The Kid was global. Now, a. Ducati Desmosedici GP8 Tribute has just sold at auction for a staggering sum.
The bike is made from an inventory of GP7 and GP8 motorcycles and parts and acquired directly from the Ducati Corse factory team in February 2010. Of course, the MotoGP technology in this package is what makes it truly special, and the fact that this tribute is finished in the “Stars and Stripes” US flag livery, just like the GP8 that Hayden tested at the end of the 2008 MotoGP season before riding for Ducati full-time in 2009.
But is MotoGP technology from 17-18 years ago, and Hayden’s most well-known livery enough to make you part with $288,000? Well, someone thought it was worth the money.
Photo by: RM Sotheby’s
Before you answer whether you’d buy it if you could afford it, know that the bike is currently in show bike configuration, so you can’t even take it for a spin. But, to be fair, it can be returned to running order for track use with the correct provision of parts. Now, could you imagine pulling up to your local track day on a Desmosedici GP8 with this livery? Suddenly, I’m sad that kidneys aren’t worth nearly as much as I thought.
Personally, I’d want to see this taken to the track and mixing it up with gixxers, etc, not just because it’s a waste of a great motorcycle to keep it locked away in an aseptic environment, but because anyone who sees this at a track will have their day made.
Seeing any Nicky Hayden memorabilia makes us race fans smile behind teary eyes, but seeing this in action could be a stand-out moment in someone’s life.
