Nicky Hayden dead: Sporting world pays tribute after 2006 MotoGP world champion dies aged 35

The Kentucky-born rider was cycling along the Rimini coastline in Italy last Wednesday when he was hit by a car

Mark Critchley
Monday 22 May 2017 17:54 BST
Comments
Nicky Hayden was crowned MotoGP world champion in 2006
Nicky Hayden was crowned MotoGP world champion in 2006 (Getty)

Your support helps us to tell the story

From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.

At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.

The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.

Your support makes all the difference.

The sporting world is paying tribute to Nicky Hayden, the World Superbike Championship rider and former MotoGP world champion, who has died at the age of 35 five days after he was involved in a road accident.

Hayden was cycling along the Rimini coastline in Italy last Wednesday when he was hit by a car. The Kentucky-born rider had been training following his 12th-placed finish at the World Superbikes race at Imola on 14 May.

On Monday, the Cesena hospital where he was being treated for his injuries announced that he had died having suffered "a very serious polytrauma".

Hayden captured imaginations across the world of sport with his dramatic 2006 MotoGP championship victory, which saw the Kentucky-born rider break Valentino Rossi's five-year winning streak.

Following the confirmation of his death, figures from across sport have paid tribute to Hayden. His team-mate in 2006 when he won the world title, Dani Pedrosa, wrote: "Always in my heart, champ. RIP Nicky. #69."

Sporting tributes to Nicky Hayden

Dani Pedrosa

Mark Webber

Felipe Massa

Chris Hoy

Chris Froome

Giedo van der Garde

Scott Redding

Danny Kent

Gino Rea

Aleix Espargaró

Hayden's mother Rose and brother Tommy had been at this bedside, along with Hayden's fiancee.

Join our commenting forum

Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies

Comments

Thank you for registering

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in