TRIBUTES POUR IN
‘Another good guy gone way too soon’
LONDON
FORMER MotoGP world champion Nicky Hayden has died at the age of 35 following a cycling accident in Italy. Hayden suffered head and chest injuries after the collision last Wednesday and was later transferred to a hospital in Cesena.
The hospital announced the American had died on Monday, five days after the crash.
Hayden was riding with friends close to Rimini when he was hit by a Peugeot, smashing into the windscreen of the vehicle before landing on the road.
Judicial authorities have opened an investigation into the incident and questioned the 30year-old driver of the Peugeot.
“Although this is obviously a sad time, we would like everyone to remember Nicky at his happiest — riding a motorcycle,” said his brother Tommy.
“He dreamed as a kid of being a pro rider and not only achieved that but also managed to reach the pinnacle of his chosen sport in becoming world champion.”
Hayden’s fiancee, Jackie Marin, posted a photo of the pair together on her Instagram account just two weeks ago. The post was a celebration of the day the couple got engaged in May 2016, according to Jackie.
She said: “One year ago, yesterday, this guy made the best decision of his life #HePutARingOnIt #VeniceItaly #May6th2016 @nicky_hayden,”
Hayden is famous for narrowly pipping Valentino Rossi to the 2006 MotoGP title, ending the Italian’s half-decade dominance of the sport.
The American had featured every year in Grand Prix, motorcycle racing’s premier class, between 2003 and 2016, winning