On Wednesday, the 35-year-old was hurt in an accident with a car on the Rimini coastline in Italy.

After several days in intensive care the hospital has now announced his death.

The statement said: "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."

Hayden, who won the MotoGP championship in 2006, had been competing in the World Superbike Championship with Red Bull Honda.