World Superbike Rider Nicky Hayden Hospitalised After a Cycling Accident in Italy *UPDATED*

In the early hours of the 18th of May, it was reported that former MotoGP World Champion Nicky Hayden had been involved in a serious cycling accident in Italy.

Hayden was out cycling with friends in the early afternoon of Wednesday the 17th May, posting a picture to Instagram to mark the occasion. During this cycling session Hayden was unfortunately hit by a car, which sent him straight into the windscreen. The initial reports stated he had suffered head and chest trauma.

Taken from Nicky Hayden’s Instagram

While, it is still unclear how the accident exactly happened, the pictures of the accident site create quite a comprehensive picture. The extent of the damage to the car is very clear in this video of the scene posted by Express, it also shows a close up of Hayden’s bicycle.

In a statement from Nicky Hayden’s team, he was was treated by a medical team on the scene before being taken to the local hospital near Rimini for further treatment. Once his condition was stabilized he was transferred to Maurizio Bufalini Hospital in Cesena where he was admitted immediately into the intensive care unit awaiting surgery.

Hayden was immediately joined by members of his Red Bull Honda team and his fiancé Jackie Marin. Several hours later, arriving at his bedside was his mother, Rose and brother, Tommy straight off flights from the United States.

The latest update from Red Bull Honda WSBK, states that while Nicky Hayden remains in the intensive care unit, “he has suffered serious polytrauma with subsequent serious cerebral damage.” Otherwise meaning, “he has suffered serious trauma with severe brain damage as a consequence.” The more in-depth details of his condition remain private.

Hayden was enjoying some down time and training following the fifth round of the World Superbike Championship in Imola, Italy when the tragedy occurred. Cycling is a very popular type of training for many of the world’s professional motorbike riders.

The riders know the risks they take when they go out cycling on the roads. However, they could be the most safety cautious, careful person out there but it would still all come down to the other people on the road. Speaking to Neil Morrison from Crash.Net, MotoGP rider Pol Espargaro expressed this concern. “It’s really bad, because with Nicky, he was almost a professional cyclist, like my brother [Aleix], and if it can happen to Nicky, it can happen to me or to anyone else in the world. This is not nice.”

In such a cycling obsessed part of the world like Europe, Pol Espargaro finds the number of incidents between cyclists and cars extremely alarming, “Already 28 deaths now and we are not in the middle of the year, and last year I think was 33 deaths all year. It’s so stupid.”, he said.

Nicky Hayden at Imola days prior to the accident. (Red Bull Honda WSBK)

Nicky Hayden is currently competing in the World Superbikes Championship for Red Bull Honda, and is in 13th on the season’s standings so far. The Kentucky Kid clinched the MotoGP World Championship in 2006, denying Valentino Rossi his ninth consecutive title. Since then Hayden has always been a solid competitor and a favourite in the paddock. Ending his 13-year MotoGP career in 2015, all were sad to see him go.

The past two years Hayden has been working hard in the World Superbikes, finishing fifth in the Championship last year and taking a victory at the Malaysian round. Hayden has had a good start to his campaign for this season, with quite a few top ten finishes and only three retirements so far.

“Hayden is a great talent, and the news of all this is a shock to the system. It would be a shame if he was unable to continue his career but for now his recovery is priority.”, said Bill Nolan, when asked about the continuing updates on Hayden’s condition following the accident.

Following this unfortunate accident, it is unsure what the future holds in terms of motorcycle racing for Nicky Hayden. He has a big fight ahead of him, and it will be a long recovery journey but with the entirety of the motorsport community behind him, you couldn’t ask for better support.

Further updates will be posted as they are announced, so for now the motorsport community must wait with bated breath for good news.

Show your support for ‘The Kentucky Kid’ on social media by using #GoNicky.

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UPDATE – 23rd May, 2017

Honda and the Hayden family have issued an official statement this morning, confirming every one’s worst fear. Unfortunately, Nicky Hayden has succumbed to his injuries.

I send my absolute love and support to his family and friends during this time. x

RIP to the kindest soul in motorsport, Nicky Hayden.