Former MotoGP Champion Nicky Hayden Seriously Injured

According to a report on Motorcycle.com, news reports from various overseas sources are that former MotoGP Champion, AMA Superbike Champion and current World Superbike star Nicky Hayden was rushed to a hospital in Rimini, Italy, today after being hit by a car, and that he has suffered serious head and chest trauma. Hayden is reported to be in serious condition.

The reports indicate that after being struck at an intersection on Ca ‘Raffaelli, in the territory of Misano Adriatico, Hayden was stabilized on site, then transferred to the Fermi di Rimini with “the highest gravity code”, and then because of his extremely critical conditions was transferred to the hospital.

While DirtBIkes.com might not normally cover such an incident involving a road racer, this is Nicky Hayden, and it strikes home for me on so many levels.

I vividly remember the first time I ever met Nicky Hayden. It had to be around 1995 or 1996 at the Du Quoin Mile, which was in the process of being rained out. As a reporter assigned to cover the AMA Grand National Championship—now known as the American Flat Track Series—I followed the sport every week, and sometimes that meant going to events that you knew would be inevitably doomed by foul weather. Du Quoin was such an event, but as always, the AMA tried its level best to dry out the racetrack and actually hold the race. But that meant there was a lot of down time, and if you knew the motley crew that made up the Grand National contingent at the time, that could usually mean a lot of mischief.

Sure enough, while a bunch of the series regulars were huddled up underneath one of the large, covered concrete patios used for picnics, none other than flat track legend Jay Springsteen hatched the idea of moving all the picnic tables out of the way and staging an impromptu concrete short track on pit bikes right then and there. Wallets came out and a surprisingly large purse was contrived as several racers lined up to have a go at what looked as though it was going to be the only purse-paying event of the weekend.

Top young riders such as Shaun Russell, Johnny Murphree and a host of others then proceeded to line up and produce one of the funniest, craziest races I’ve ever seen. The gloves were completely off, and as the field continued to make its dizzying circles, riders began to get testy and take each other out in true motocross fashion.

And through it all, this little kid, wearing nothing more than a helmet, shorts, a t-shirt and sneakers, made his way through the pack 12-15 riders and ended up winning all the money. When the race was over, I walked up to the youngster and congratulated him not only on his riding skills but on his bravery for riding in street clothes. I asked him his name, and he replied, “Nicky Hayden.”

From that day forward, I was a fan. I was there to watch him become a Grand National Expert, win half mile, short track and TT races, including the legendary Peoria TT, and the Springfield TT on the night in which Nicky, older brother Tommy and younger brother Roger Lee Hayden made AMA history by being the first all-family podium in the sport of dirt track racing. I was there when he won the Daytona 200 and the AMA Superbike Championship, when he won the Red Bull U.S. MotoGP, and when he ultimately became the MotoGP Champion in thrilling fashion in 2008.

Through it all, Nicky Hayden has never forgotten where he came from or the people who were there when he got his start. Every once in a while, I’d be at a supercross, a motorcycle show or some other sporting event, and I would hear this booming voice, “Hey, Rousseau!” And it would Nicky, and he’d always spare a few minutes of his time to catch up.

As time has gone by, I’ve also watched as his career has moved beyond its peak–hey, it’s inevitable. Even Nicky would probably admit that he isn’t the fearless risk taker that he used to be. But that’s okay. When he moved over to World Superbike last season, I still believed in my heart that he had what it takes to be a World Superbike Champion, because I’ve seen how much heart he has shown throughout his career.

And so, today, I find myself praying that Nicky’s accident isn’t as bad is it sounds, and that he will be able to recover to full health. Whether or not he ever races a motorcycle again matters very little right now.

Red Bull Honda World Superbike Team statement regarding Nicky Hayden
Red Bull Honda World Superbike Team rider Nicky Hayden was involved in an incident while cycling near Rimini, Italy yesterday afternoon (Wednesday, 17th May)

Following the incident, Nicky was treated on site by medical staff and then taken by ambulance to a hospital near Rimini for immediate treatment. Once Nicky’s condition was stabilised, he was transferred to Maurizio Bufalini Hospital in Cesena and remains in the hospital’s intensive care unit.
Members of Nicky’s team and his fiancé are with him in the hospital.

We would like to thank everyone for their kind wishes and messages of support and the assistance of emergency and medical services. 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.