Hayden Wins Springfield TT

| May 28, 2001
Nicky Hayden came to the Springfield TT at the Illinois State Fairgrounds today, filled with the hope that he could score another win at the site of his first career Grand National short track victory and thus get another leg up on an historic Grand Slam in AMA professional motorcycle racing competition. When the 25-lap main event was over, however, another Hayden was standing atop the victory podium.

Using an off weekend that saw both he and his brother Nicky having fun away from their regular jobs as factory road racers, Tommy Hayden rode a very stock-appearing Yamaha YZ426F to his first career Grand National victory. And he did it by waging a familiar battle with a longtime racing foe, none other than his own brother, Nicky Hayden. Nicky went on to finish second, for a Hayden one-two of the podium. Previous day’s Springfield Mile winner Chris Carr finished third, with Rich King fourth and defending AMA Grand National Champion Joe Kopp rounding out the top five.

Here are the results from the Springfield TT main event:

GRAND NATIONAL (25 laps; 18 riders): 1. Tommy Hayden (Yam); 2. Nicky Hayden (Rtx); 3. Chris Carr (ATK); 4. Rich King (H-D); 5. Joe Kopp (Rtx); 6. JR Schnabel (W-R); 7. Roger Lee Hayden (Rtx); 8. Will Davis (ATK); 9. Brett Landes (ATK); 10. Mike Hacker (ATK); 11. Shawn Clark (KTM); 12. Geo Roeder II (Rtx); 13. Bryan Bigelow (ATK); 14. Kenny Coolbeth (W-R); 15. Johnny Murphree (W-R); 16. Scott Scherb (Rtx); 17. John Hlebo III (CCM); 18. Paul Lynch (Rtx).

By Scott Rousseau