'Josh' Hayes (born April 4, 1975 in Gulfport, Mississippi, as Joshua Kurt Hayes) is an American motorcycle road-racer who started his career in 1994 at age 19 on a F2 that he tuned himself while driving from race to race. After winning three novice championships (WERA), Hayes turned pro in 1996 and two years later the 23-year-old entered the AMA ranks.