Nicky Hayden has been placed in a medically induced coma following a bicycle crash on Wednesday.
The 35-year-old was training on his bicycle on the Rimini coast in Italy when he was struck by a car. He was treated by medics on the scene with life-threatening injuries and was then taken to a local hospital in serious condition with chest and head trauma.
Hayden was later taken to the Cesena hospital for further treatment and possible surgery and was placed in a medically induced coma overnight.
The “Kentucky Kid” won the MotoGP World Championship in 2006 and was competing in the World Superbike championship this year.