Copyright 2002, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

By David Swarts

Nicky Hayden rode a factory Honda CRF450F to victory Saturday night in the Formula USA Pro Singles short track race at Del Mar Fairgrounds in Del Mar, California. Nicky Hayden was the second-fastest qualifier and advanced to the final by winning his heat race; he started the main from pole position thanks to setting the fastest heat race time.

In the 20-lap main event, Nicky Hayden grabbed the holeshot and simply ran away to take the win.

Riding a White Brothers Yamaha YZ426F, Tommy Hayden also won his heat race but finished third in the main, behind Honda 450 rider Johnny Murphree and just ahead of KTM-mounted Joe Kopp. 2002 AMA Flat Track National Champion Chris Carr finished fifth on a VOR.

Jake Zemke took 10th on an American Honda CRF450F after winning his semi race.

Also riding an American Honda CRF450F, Roger Lee Hayden just missed the main event. After posting the 23rd-fastest qualifying time, Roger Lee Hayden took fifth in the heat race that Nicky Hayden won, finished third in the semi race that Zemke won and finished third in the Last Chance Qualifier. Only the winner of the LCQ advanced to the main event.

Seventy-six riders tried to qualify for the 48 spots in the heat races and the 13 spots in the main event. Veteran dirt tracker Larry Pegram turned the 51st-fastest qualifying time on his Suzuki DR-Z400 and failed to qualify for the heat races. Defending F-USA Pro Singles Champion and current Pro Singles point leader Terry Poovey qualified with the 12th-fastest time but failed to make the main event. Formula USA officials called the Del Mar short track event “the hardest main to make of the year”

The Del Mar short track race event was attended by dozens of AMA road racing personalities including Eric Bostrom, Steve Rapp, Tony Meiring and nearly every member of the Kawasaki and American Honda factory road race crews.

F-USA Pro Singles
Del Mar Short Track
October 5
Main Event Results:

1. Nicky Hayden, Honda, 20 laps
2. Johnny Murphree, Honda
3. Tommy Hayden, Yamaha
4. Joe Kopp, KTM
5. Chris Carr, VOR
6. Jared Mees, Honda
7. Glen Schnabel, Jr., Honda
8. Brett Landes, Honda
9. Steve Beattie, Honda
10. Jake Zemke, Honda
11. Dan Stanley, Honda
12. Jake Johnson, Honda
13. Kevin Varnes, CCM