Former MotoGP champion Nicky Hayden is in a medically induced coma after being hit by a car while cycling in Italy.
The American was cycling on the Rimini coastline on Wednesday, having raced in the World Superbike championship in Italy last Sunday.
The 35-year-old, who has been racing for Red Bull Honda's World Superbike team, is in intensive care in Cesena.
He won his only MotoGP championship in 2006, preventing Valentino Rossi from winning a sixth successive title.
"We would like to thank everyone for their messages of support and the assistance of emergency and medical services," said Red Bull Honda in a statement.
"Once an official statement regarding Nicky's condition is released by the hospital or Nicky's family, a further update from the team will be issued."
US-based motorcycling website Asphalt & Rubber are reporting that Hayden has received surgery and is now in a ‘medically induced coma’, a state in which he’s likely to remain for the next 24 hours.
Italian motorcycling website Moto.it have an update after Hayden spent the night in Cesena Hospital.
They are reporting that ‘the clinical picture of Nicky Hayden has not improved’ and that after examination by doctors this morning his prognosis hasn’t changed.
There are still major concerns about his head trauma and further updates will be issued throughout the day.
The Police Commander of the district, Pierpaolo Marullo, announced some details of the incident,
“At 16:50, three hours after the accident, my men continue to gather evidence for the case, which we consider to be serious. When the officers arrived at the scene, the wounded man was still at the edge of the road, being stabilised by medical teams. He was then transferred to the Red Cross Hospital of Infermi di Rimini.
Our first study of the facts would appear to show that the blow has occurred with the right front tyre of the car and that the cyclist involved was separate from the group at the time of the collision.”
Photographs from local newspaper, Rimni today, show the full extent of the damage to both the Peugeot and to Hayden’s bicycle.
