News 19 May 2017

Messages of support flow for 'extremely critical' Hayden

Red Bull Honda World Superbike Team releases update.

Source: Supplied.

Injured American Nicky Hayden’s Red Bull Honda World Superbike Team has released an update on his condition as he remains hospitalised in Italy, following a bicycle training incident on Wednesday.

Hayden’s mother Rose and elder brother Tommy have now arrived from the United States to join his fiancé Jackie by the 2006 MotoGP world champion’s side, as friends and fans have shown their support globally.

“Nicky Hayden’s clinical condition remains extremely critical,” a statement from the Maurizio Bufalini Hospital in Cesena, Italy, said. “The young man, who is still in the intensive care unit of Cesena’s Bufalini hospital, has suffered a serious polytrauma with subsequent serious cerebral damage. The prognosis remains reserved.”

Messages of support have been rapidly shared for Hayden after he was struck by a car while training in between European rounds of WorldSBK. During the Le Mans pre-event press conference, nine-time world champion Valentino Rossi – a teammate of Hayden in his rookie MotoGP season at Repsol Honda in 2003 and later at Ducati – spoke of their friendship.

“It was very bad news from yesterday,” Rossi said. “The first hours it’s difficult for it to sink in, but I spoke with a doctor who is a friend of mine and he said to me that the situation was very difficult from the first moment.

“Now with a bit more time you start to understand it and it’s a great shame because Nicky is a great friend and great rider – a world champion and always at the top, but also a great guy. Coming from a family of racers, from his father to his brothers, he’s always a good guy and always smiling. I think the situation is very difficult but we all hope for the best.”

Reigning MotoGP champion Marc Marquez, who was reunited with Hayden when they teamed up at Phillip Island last year, also shared memories of the American: “I’ve known Nicky since 2008 when I arrived in the Repsol KTM team in 125 and he was a really nice guy to me.

“In Australia last year we spent a lot of time together. It was really nice, especially we did an incredible party on the Sunday! We enjoyed it a lot. I remember he was going to sleep, but then he stayed until 6:00am.

“Like Valentino said, it’s really sad because it’s something you never expect. You take big risks every weekend on the motorbike and then something unexpected like that can happen. I wish the best for him and all his family.”

Support has been extended to Hayden and his family from all corners of the sport and beyond, with many viewable via the #gonicky hashtag on social media.

Hayden was involved in the incident while cycling near Rimini, Italy, on Wednesday afternoon. He was treated on site by medical staff and then taken by ambulance to a hospital near Rimini for immediate treatment. Once his condition was stabilised, he was transferred to Maurizio Bufalini Hospital in Cesena and remains in the hospital’s intensive care unit.

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