17:51 NICKY HAYDEN HAS DIED

A statement from the Bufalini Hospital in Cesena read: "The medical college has confirmed the death of the patient Nicholas Patrick Hayden, recovering from Wednesday May 17 in a hospital intensive care unit of Cesena Bufalini as a result of serious multiple injuries occurred on that date."Tributes have already started flooding in, with MotoGP and sports fans in general paying their respects to the American.

Past and present MotoGP riders have expressed their devastation at the news Nicky Hayden has died.

Dani Pedrosa, who dedicated his podium place at yesterday’s French GP, tweeted: Always in my heart, champ. RIP Nicky. #69

And Tito Rabat wrote: “It was an honour to share the track with Nicky Hayden, an example for everyone. RIP

Aleix Espargaro tweeted: “Can't believe... The most easy and good guy i ever meet on a padeock in my life! Love u Nicky!”

Alvaro Arce wrote: “Hard day for the motorcycles family... R.I.P. NICKY HAYDEN”

Hayden was hit by a Peugeot when entering a junction in Rimini, east Italy.The 35-year-old had spoken to fellow MotoGP legend Kevin Schwantz just hours before the incident and even offered the 1993 champion to join him on the ride.Hayden’s family travelled to Cesena to be at his bedside last week and hoped to send test results to a US specialist for a second consolation.

Nicky Hayden has died aged 35


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16:45: BREAKING NEWS

Nicky Hayden has died following a crash last week in Italy.

It has been reported that Hayden spent five days in a coma before he died.

There remains uncertainties over the incident that Rimini’s deputy prosecutor will look at over the next two months.

One is the speed at which the car was travelling when it hit Hayden.

Another is whether or not Hayden ignored a stop sign at the junction in question and if he was listening to music on his iPod.

Police expect the road traffic report to be filed by mid-July.

Hayden’s death comes after German triathlete Julia Viellehner also passed away from similar injuries in Cesena earlier today.

Viellehner, 31, was hit by a truck when cycling in the hills outside Forli and taken to Cesena’s Bufalini Hospital.

Viellehner was a German cross-country, triathlon and marathon champion.

She died earlier today after being induced into an artificial coma.

More to follow…