VOL. 55 ISSUE 33 AUGUST 21, 2018 P93
thought about that, but I went through that
and was like, 'whoa! I've had a lot of them.'
"This year I've crashed a lot not even push-
ing. Sometimes, just happy with where I'm at
in the race, I crash. I'm like, 'what the...?' I
don't like taking the risks that I used to like to
take on the track. That used to be my strong
suit. I didn't care how I got back to the truck
after the race, crash truck, ambulance, what-
ever. Now it's like, I'll give a spot."
Twenty years as a professional motor-
cycle racer is a life only very few get to live,
and Hayden is in an even more exclusive
club as three of his family members were all
bonafide stars of the sport. Roger is acutely
aware of not just the success he's had but
also the timing of it, coming through the
ranks when there was enough money to be
made where—if you were smart enough to
recognize it—a racer could create a future
ROGER'S TWO
FAVORITE RACES
Springfield 2002
When asked what his fa-
vorite race was, Roger was
resolute in his response.
"For sure, the Springfield
TT in 2002. Nicky won,
Tommy got second, I got
third, in a Grand National.
We were the first three
brothers to ever stand on a
professional racing podium
together. We grew up flat
tracking. My parents were
there, and it was like my
dad's dream for all of us to
be on the podium. He saw
two brothers on the podium, getting there. Tommy, Nicky,
then me. So that's the biggest."
Pittsburgh 2017
"Then last year when I won Pittsburgh, because when we
were there for the test is when my brother Tommy called
me and told me about Nicky's accident and how bad it was.
So, going back to that place, it was just not a good feeling. I
was there for two days. Just a really yucky feeling.
"Friday I struggled. I barely even made the Superpole.
On Saturday, I got on the podium and on Sunday I just won
it. I think I was probably riding to the best that I've ever rode.
It was the first race since Nicky passed away and we won
it. I got to dedicate the race to him. Some people might not
like this, but I took the champagne bottle home, took it to his
grave site, and poured a little bit out on there. It was cool for
me. I left the bottle there, but somebody picked it up."
