The funeral of former MotoGP💮 champion Nicky Hayden took place today at St. Stephen Cathedral Chu♉rch in his hometown of Owensboro, Kentucky.

The immensely popular 35-year-old - a MotoGP racer from 2003-2015 - tragically died on May 22 from injuries sustained in a road accident, whilst training on h🍌is bicycle near Misano.

The traditional ceremony, watched from around the world via a live stream on , fe൲atured reading🍌s and hymns, plus personal memories of Hayden by the priest, Father Tony:

"To the world, Nicky was world 🃏champion, hero, a winner. He was that to us too. But again, to Rose and Earl, he was a son. To Tommy and Jenny, Roger Lee and Kathleen, he was a brother. To Jackie, he was a soulꦛmate.

"...I started thinking of words which we could use to describe Nicky. There's a lot of them: Kentucky Kid, giver, listener. He was determined, driven, goal orientated. At age 3 he listed a number of things he wanted to accomplish in life and♑ he came pretty close to accomplishing them all.

"He was loyal, not only to his 🌱family but to his friends. If you were a friend of Nicky, you were a friend for life. He wa🍌s funny, the life of a party. Witty. He was grounded in who he was. He was comfortable in his own skin. There's another word we've probably seen the side of; mischievous. In his senior year he was voted by his peers as most mischievous of all!

"But as I reflect upon those words𝓡, while they do Nicky justice, there's another word that I'd like to concentrate on; Nicky was a gift to so many people. He was a gift to you, his parents, and to your family, and to Jackie. He was a gift, first and foremost."

Hayden had been competing in his second season of World Superbikes, having claimed 🧜one win and four podiums during his rookie campaign for Ten Kate Honda.

The American was also called-up for two MotoGP starts last year, with Marc VDS and Repsol Honda, the team with which 𝄹he began his world championship career and won the MotoGP title in 2006.

World Superbike paid its respects to Hayden at Do꧒nington Park, with ♚MotoGP honouring the #69 at the forthcoming Italian Grand Prix.

Nicky Hayden is survived by his parents Earl and Rose, siblings Tommy, Jennifer, Roger, and Kathleen, and his fianc?e Jackie Marin, all of w🧜hom accompanied Hayden's coffin and sat at the front of the church.

Friend and former rival Colin Edwards was♏ also among those present at today's ceremony.

Donations can be made to the , which helps children in Ha൩yden's local community.

#RideOnKentuckyKid