2006 MotoGP World Champion Nicky Hayden Succumbs To Injuries

2006 MotoGP World Champion Nicky Hayden has succumbed to the injuries he suffered in a bicycle accident near Rimini, Italy on May 17, 2017. Hayden was reportedly entering an intersection where he failed to notice the "STOP" sign. According to the driver of the vehicle that struck Hayden, the famed motorcyclist suddenly appeared on the road in front of him and, unable to stop in time, struck him head on. Although the speed of the car has not yet been determined, the impact was strong enough that not only was the car's windshield shattered and the roof dented but the frame of Hayden's bicycle was supposedly split in two. A report stated that a security camera prior to the crash captured Hayden fiddling with a music player, which may have distracted him from noticing the "STOP" sign.

The accident happened just three days after Hayden saw action on the fifth round of the Superbike World Championship at the Autodromo Internazionale Enzo e Dino Ferrari in Imola, with the American rider retiring from the first round before completing the second round in 12th place and in 13th place overall for the current season. Hayden passed away on May 23, 1:09 a.m., Philippine time at the Maurizio Bufalini Hospital in Cesena, Italy. Born in Owensboro, Kentucky, Hayden was known as the "Kentucky Kid" and started his motorcycle racing career on dirt bikes before he shifted his attention to superbikes, with both sports overlapping his competitive career during his younger years. After two impressive seasons in the AMA Superbike Championship, Hayden was tapped by Honda to join its Repsol Honda MotoGP team for the 2003 season and team up with defending champion Valentino Rossi. Hayden finished the season in fifth place overall and bagged the Rookie of the Year award. The 2006 season saw Hayden finally crowned as the MotoGP World Champion, narrowly beting Rossi for the title down to the last race. By the time the 2008 season came to an end, Hayden's relationship with Honda deteriorated and come 2009, Hayden joined the Ducati team. Hayden's best season with the Italian team was in 2010 with a lone podium finish in third place at the Aragon Grand Prix. A brief reunion in Ducati with former teammate Rossi for the 2011 and 2012 seasons failed to improve Ducati's fortunes as the team once again finished in third place overall For the 2014 and 2015 season, Hayden rode for the Aspar Racing Team and come 2016, Hayden rejoined the Superbike Championship with Honda, which he raced for until his recent demise. While racing in the Superbike Championship series, Hayden did step in as a substitute rider for injured Honda riders: Jack Miller for the 2016 Aragon Grand Prix and Dani Pedrosa for the 2016 Australian Grand Prix.