Hayden extremely critical after cycling crash

Nicky Hayden was listed in "extremely critical" after the 2006 MotoGP champion was hit by a car while cycling in Italy.

"Nicky Hayden's clinical condition remains extremely critical," Maurizio Bufalini Hospital in Cesena, Italy, said in a statement. "The young man, who is still in the intensive care unit of Cesena's Bufalini hospital, has suffered a serious polytrauma with subsequent serious cerebral damage. The prognosis remains reserved."

Hayden's fiancée, mother and brother Tommy have arrived in Italy.

According to reports in the Italian media, the 35-year-old American was cycling in Rimini, Italy – having competed in a World Superbike Race in Italy last Sunday – when he was struck. He was transported to a local hospital before being moved to Cesena.

"We would like to thank everyone for their messages of support and the assistance of emergency and medical services," said Red Bull Honda in a statement.

"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."

There has been an outpouring of well-wishes for the Owensboro, Kentucky native, including a touching post by Valentino Rossi, who Hayden prevented from winning his sixth straight MotoGP title when he took the honors in 2006:

"Nicky is one of the best friends I have had in the paddock. We were teammates in his rookie year in 2003, when he was a young guy making his debut in his first European experience. That season ended with the World Championship for me and with his first visit to the podium, at Phillip Island. After a few years we fought for the title down to the last race in Valencia and, unfortunately for me, he won and became MotoGP World Champion. After the race we shook hands and hugged.

"Later we were again teammates during the difficult years at Ducati, when sometimes we would fight right down to the wire, maybe to get the last place in the top five. Nicky often came to the Ranch, where it was always spectacular to watch him and try to steal some of his secrets when we were battling, because he's one of the fastest flattrackers in the world and before moving onto asphalt he won some of the biggest American flat track races like the Peoria TT.

"But the best memory I have of him is when he came to shake my hand after the unfortunate race in Valencia in 2015, on the lap of honour. For him it was a goodbye to MotoGP, and I had just lost the World Championship. His look of support from inside his helmet is one of the few positive memories I have from that day. Forza Nicky, we're all with you."

Nicky è uno dei migliori amici che ho avuto nel paddock.siamo stati compagni di squadra con la Honda nel suo anno da rookie,il 2003,quando era un giovane debuttante alla prima esperienza europea.quella stagione si chiuse con il mondiale per me e con il suo primo podio a Phillip Island.dopo qualche anno abbiamo lottato uno contro l'altro per il mondiale 2006 fino all'ultima gara e alla fine,purtroppo per me,mi ha battuto ed è diventato il campione del mondo della MotoGP.dopo la gara ci siamo dati la mano e ci siamo abbracciati.in seguito siamo stati ancora compagni di squadra nei difficili anni della Ducati,quando parecchie volte abbiamo lottato all'ultimo sangue,magari per conquistare l'ultimo posto nella top five.Nicky veniva spesso al Ranch,dove era sempre uno spettacolo vederlo e cercare di carpire qualche segreto battagliandoci insieme,perché lui è uno dei più veloci flattisti del mondo e prima di passare all'asfalto ha vinto le più importanti gare di Flat Track americano come il Peoria TT. Il più bel ricordo che ho di lui però è quando è venuto a darmi la mano dopo la sfortunata gara di Valencia 2015,durante il giro d'onore.per lui era l'addio alla MotoGP,io avevo appena perso il mondiale.il suo sguardo di supporto dentro il casco è uno dei pochi ricordi positivi che ho di quel giorno.Forza Nicky,siamo tutti con te.A post shared by valeyellow46 (@valeyellow46) on May 18, 2017 at 2:27am PDT

Hayden, who rose to prominence on the American dirt-track motorcycle racing scene, won the MotoGP title in 2006 for the Repsol Honda team. He won three races in a career from 2003-2015, before switching to Superbike full-time, although he made two starts in MotoGP last year to fill in for injured Honda rider Jack Miller.