AMA Progressive Insurance U.S. Flat Track Championships
Round 3: Illinois State Fairgrounds
By
SCOTT ROUSSEAU
PHOTOS BY FLAT TRAK FOTOS
SPRINGFIElD, IlliNOIS, MAY 25
f;\
MA Grand National history was
Wmade at the American Chevrolet
Springfield TT, and in the process
Team Honda's Nicky Hayden got one
more leg up on the chance to make
even more.
Before a healthy crowd a the illinois State Fairgrounds Rodeo Arena,
Hayden and his Honda CRF450R
grabbed the lead away from brother
Tommy Hayden over the jump on the
opening lap and then went on to lead
both Tommy and youngest brother
Roger Lee Hayden - the latter earning
both his first career Grand National
pole position and also his first career
Grand National podium in the same
race - across the finish line for a Hayden family one-two-three. Nicky's
margin of victory was a whopping
7.697 seconds at the checkered flag.
It also marked the first time that three
family members had ever landed atop
an AMA National podium.
"I just can't even put this into
words," Hayden said. "I mean, me
and my bros one-two-three... This is
rea)Jy special for me and my family.
This is great to get a win on the TI.
The bases are loaded now."
Damned straight. For with this win
Hayden now has the chance to com-
plete the Grand Slam, needing only a
mile victory do so. He was scheduled
to ride a Terry Poovey Honda RS750
in the Springfield Mile less than 24
(Top) Polesltter Roger Lee Hayden (34)
darts of the Inside of the front row
while his brothers Tommy Hayden
(22C) and Nicky Hayden (69) get a
jump off the outside. The Kentucky
trio made AMA history, becoming the
first ail-family National podium.
(Right) Not this year, bro: Nicky
(foreground) and Tommy (background)
recreated their classic battle from last
year's event for the win. This time,
Nicky made a pass for the lead In the
infield on lap four and then sped away
to win It by seven seconds.
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JUNE
5, 2002
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