(Photo by Mirco Lazzari gp/Getty Images)
Nicky Hayden passed away today at 35-years-old. The motorcycle racer won the MotoGP World Championship in 2006.
Nicky Hayden Cause Of Death
BBC Sport has the latest report on the tragic news.
The American collided with a car on the Rimini coastline in Italy on Wednesday, 17 May.
He suffered “serious cerebral damage” and had been in the intensive care unit of Cesena’s Maurizio Bufalini Hospital.
Hayden, who competed in the World Superbike Championship in Italy on 14 May, won the MotoGP championship in 2006.
A hospital statement issued on Thursday said Hayden had suffered “a serious polytrauma”, which is a medical term to describe the condition of a person who has multiple traumatic injuries.
Hayden was born in Owensboro, Kentucky, and he turned pro at just 16-years-old. It wasn’t long until he started earning accolades, as he was the Superbike World Champion in 2002. Hayden moved to the MotoGP World Championship in 2003 and would make his presence felt there immediately, becoming the Rookie of the Year.
In 2006, Hayden would have the biggest success of his career, as he was crowned the MotoGP World Champion. Hayden raced in the MotoGP World Championship from 2003-2016, making 218 starts and winning 131 races. He returned to the Superbike World Championship from 2016-2017, racing for the Red Bull Honda team.
Both of Hayden’s brothers, Tommy and Roger Lee, were also professional motorcycle racers.
Hayden was engaged to Jackie Martin, making this unbelievably sad news even worse. Thoughts and prayers go out to all of Hayden’s family and friends during this unimaginably tough time. RIP, Nicky.
