By 1999 the Honda RC45 was an absolute weapon.

A V4 750cc engine under the purview of Honda Racing Corp, it made over 170 horsepower and was fast enough to win the WSBK title against Ducatis with 250cc more capacity and engine life that was measured in hours. The factory HRC RC45 came with a million-dollar lease cost and a Japanese engineer and overseer. For a 17 year old kid who still kept his steel shoe in his gear bag, as Nicky Hayden did, it was about as far from the dirt-track fairgrounds of Indianapolis as a motorcycle could get. Yet there he was, born in 1981 and just 17, being handed one of the most exclusive racing motorcycles in the world and asked to do what he had always done: twist the throttle and race. Also don't hurt the bike. Nicky Hayden's first Superbike rides for Honda were framed in simple terms: go fast, learn the ropes, and whatever you do, don't let the RC45 swallow you whole—or return to the paddock on the crash truck.

Miguel DuHamel was injured and forced to sit out several rounds of the 1999 AMA Superbike season and so Erion Racing rider Hayden was okayed to fill in for DuHamel on a 'let's see what he's got' basis. His mechanics were Al Ludington and Joey Lombardo. With the Superbike ride added to his schedule, Hayden was racing three classes every weekend. He tried the bike at Mid-Ohio but "could not hang on any longer" and crashed. He needed to know more about the bike and what it liked and didn't like in order to finish races on it.

He stayed late on Thursday night with the mechanics as they did a refresh on the motorcycle and took it through technical inspection. When they pulled the carbon fiber bodywork off and the aluminum fuel tank, the splendor of the RC45 was laid bare for Hayden. He innocently played "what's that do?" and "how's that work?" with the crew until dark. How much sleep did he get before his maiden voyage on a factory Superbike? Probably not much. But he was there bright and early the next morning, ready for the day his wrist would be connected to a 170-horsepower monster at one of the fastest road courses in the United States: Road America.

How was the mood before practice? Serious. This wasn't a test day at Willow on a 600. The crew led him and the bike to the pit lane and they waited for the Superbike practice to go green.

Back then HRC took pride in being able to build a motorcycle that was mere ounces over the minimum weight rule for any class. As a result there wasn't an electric start or any other device to start the bike. Hayden somberly climbed on and Lombardo assumed the position to push start him. Head down, one hand on each side of the bike. He pushed hard and knows that in about four full steps the bike will fire.

This time, Hayden pops the clutch and ... nothing. The engine doesn't even pop. Okay, Lombardo does the dance again, really pushing hard this time. Nicky lets the clutch out. Nothing. A million thoughts race through Lombardo's head. He doesn't look up, just assumes the position one more time and pushes the RC45 off with a really hard thrust.

And in doing so, for the first time, he looks up at the rider. Nicky is turned around on the bike looking at him through his face shield. Hayden has a huge grin on his face and he sees that Nicky's left thumb is on the kill-switch, preventing the RC45 from starting.

Lombardo finishes the story: "So he rocks it over to 'run' and sure enough, the thing fires off. I didn't fall down but I came close, I did take some big steps. Away he rode on his first factory Superbike ride. That little shit. I love him. I miss him."