Cycle News is a weekly magazine that covers all aspects of motorcycling including Supercross, Motocross and MotoGP as well as new motorcycles
Issue link: https://magazine.cyclenews.com/i/128370
Daytona International SpeedW'ay Daytona Beach, FL Kawasaki engine development specialist Theo Lo(kwood did his job at Daytona. Here, he shows Tommy Hayden his pit board on the final lap with a 3.8-se(ond lead. Pro Honda Oils Supersport Series K WaSaki'S Tommy Hayden won the Pro Honda Oils Supersport race at Daytona International Speedway by the largest margin since Kawasaki's last win by Doug Chandler in 1998. There were two primary reasons: The new Kawasaki ZX-6RR was the fastest 600 in the field, and the new infield secion did what many had predicted - it broke up the front-running pack. "That's the best race bike I've ever ridden," Hayden said in a jubilant victory lane, his family, including brother Nicky, and friends from Owensboro, Kentucky, joining the celebration. The proof was in the numbers. In what is traditionally the closest race of the weekend - last year first to sixth was covered by 0.254 seconds - Hayden won by 3.723 seconds. Not since Chandler's 7.ll0-second win in 1998 has the margin been so large. Hayden completed the 22-lap, 64.9-mile race in 38 minutes, 3 seconds, at an average speed of 102.339 mph. Comparisons to the 2004 race are irrelevant because of the new 2.95-mile track configuration and the 2004 race being interrupted by a red flag. But Erion Honda's Kurtis Roberts averaged I 12.387 mph in winning the 2003 Supersport race. This year, Yamaha's Jamie Hacking was second, with teammate Jason DiSalvo third. It was something of a blow to Yamaha, who'd spent the previous weekend racing the Championship Cup Series and Formula USA races in a bid to get a leg up on the competition. Yamaha's Aaron Gobert was fifth, behind Yoshimura Suzuki's Ben Spies, with Damon Buckmaster sitting out the race with a broken shoulder, the result of a single-bike accident in a Formula USA race. Hayden started from the pole follOWing a controversial decision by AMA Pro Racing. After rain washed out Wednesday's qualifying, AMA Pro Racing officials decided to grid Thursday's Supersport final by the supplemental regulations. The first criteria was 2004 points, which put 2004 Supersport Champion Tommy Hayden on the pole. But overnight, they changed their mind, informing the teams just prior to Thursday morning's practice that the session would be timed qualifying and would determine the grid for the main-event race. "I was just disappointed that they told us five minutes before we had to ride practice," Tommy Hayden said. "It wouldn't have bothered me at all if they said we'll use this morning for practice. That was the only thing. I got a point out of the deal, so it turned out better." From his pole position, Hayden led every lap, though Yamaha's Hacking did pass him on the track once. Hacking made a race of it, keeping Hayden honest until the 13th lap, when he took second after Roger Lee Hayden ran off in turn one. Hacking said the break came when they encountered a lapper in the chicane. "I got hung on the outside; I was pushing that guy's wind," Hacking said. "Tommy, he just started gapping me right there. From then on he just started pulling gaps. We'd get in lappers again. He was pulling a little gap here, a little gap there. I'd make it back up." Tommy's lead went from O.S72 seconds on lap 12 to 1.924 on lap 13, and it continued to grow to over four seconds before dropping a few tenths at the end. "I definitely couldn't ask for more out of my bike," Tommy Hayden said. "The thing was unbelievable. It was really easy to ride and super fast. I felt good since I've been here on it. Qualifying this morning was good, and I got the pole, and I think lied every I . I mean I can't ask for anying better from my bike for sure. Coming into the new t ck and n e.