Nicky Hayden has died.

Mr Hayden, who was MotoGP World Champion in 2006, passed away from injuries sustained in a cycling accident in Italy last week.

He was rushed to a local hospital with severe head and chest trauma after the crash, and then transferred to the Intensive Care unit of the Maurizio Bufalini hospital.

Mr Hayden remained in a critical condition and was joined at his beside by mother Rose, older brother Tommy and fiancee Jackie, before he succumbed to his injuries earlier today.

He is also survived by his father Earl, who was unable to travel to Italy from the United States due to health problems, his brother Roger Lee and two sisters, Jenny and Kathleen.

As well as being a MotoGP Champion, Mr Hayden was a WorldSBK race winner, fiancé, uncle, brother, son, friend or simply the Kentucky Kid who rose from American dirt track to the absolute pinnacle of his sport.

He was was known for many things to many people, and put his name to an astounding number achievements both within racing and beyond its limits – key amongst which was his moniker as ‘the nicest man in Grand Prix racing’. A true competitor with an incredible commitment to his sport, and a true family man dedicated to the people around him.

Mr Hayden will be deeply missed by the paddocks he has graced throughout an incredible career, his millions of fans around the world, and by all those closest to him. A true legend of the sport in every sense of the word.