National Guard Jordan Suzuki's Roger Hayden (Photo: Brian J Nelson)

Hayes and Young both got off to an early start in the chase for the $2,000 Cortech "Performance Edge Award," which will go to the AMA Pro National Guard Superbike rider who posts the highest number of "fastest lap of the race" in event finals during the 2012 season. In Race 1, Hayes turned the fastest lap of the race on Lap 4 with a time of 1:37.490 and in Race 2, Young turned the fastest lap of the race on Lap 11 with a time of 1:37.379.

National Guard Jordan Suzuki's Roger Hayden registered a bountiful opener of his own, doubling his all-time AMA Pro National Guard Superbike podium tally by securing his third and fourth career third-place results.

However, the Kentuckian had somewhat mixed feelings regarding his performances due to the increased expectations that have come along with his remarkably strong close to the '11 campaign, in which he demonstrated the pace to push the likes of Hayes and Young and challenge for victory.

Hayden found himself more than 10 seconds off the win in both AMA Pro GoPro Daytona Superbike races, battling with impressive rookie Josh Herrin on the second Monster Energy Graves Yamaha YZF-R1 rather than duking it out for the lead.

Hayden admitted that he was searching for speed and grip throughout the weekend, but wasn't overly discouraged considering the anomalous setting of the Florida high banks while being comforted in the fact that his GSX-R1000 should prove better suited to the more conventional circuits ahead.

Hayden said, "Josh Herrin made me earn this one. He was really riding good for his rookie race weekend. I was trying to break the draft in the infield; I felt I was a little bit stronger than him but he could always draft back by me and I couldn't draft him. We definitely need to find a little bit more speed but I'm happy to come away with two third-place finishes. It's a good start to the season. We kind of know where we are weak at now so we can try to improve before Road Atlanta."

Speaking of 21-year-old Herrin, while the points standings show him outside the top ten, the reality on track made it clear that he was the fourth strongest competitor at Daytona International Speedway in what should have served as a warning shot to the rest of the field.

The former 600cc ace has proven a quick study on the 200+ horsepower R1 Superbike. And while he's likely to face some struggles at times as he adjusts to the class (like Friday's crash from fourth position), he's also certain to shine, as he did when he finished a close fourth a day later.