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AMA SBK: Hayes & Paris, First Couple of Speed
Written by: Chris Martin   
06/22/2009
Iowa City, IA
 
Josh Hayes and Melissa Paris (Photo: Brian J Nelson) ยป More Photos

Three-time AMA undercard champ Josh Hayes entered the 2009 season opener at Daytona International Speedway determined to make history. Victory in the prestigious Daytona 200 had only just eluded him in the past; the Mississippian finished as the runner-up in '06 to kick off the first of two straight AMA Formula Xtreme title runs, and then was cruelly robbed of a flawless triumph in 2008 after an infraction discovered during the post-race technical teardown resulted in his disqualification, stealing away both the win and any realistic hope of winning three consecutive FX crowns.

Hayes had a shot at redemption in 2009. While he had finally earned that much sought after factory Superbike ride, new employer Yamaha decided to set Hayes loose on the brand-new Daytona SportBike field (the class now featured in the famed contest) in hopes of securing a Daytona 200 victory.

However, fate was unkind to the likable pilot again. A section of lights went out in the inaugural nighttime
running of the grueling event, brining out the Safety Car and erasing his hard-earned six-second advantage. Later, while desperately scrapping for the win in a tight group as the laps wound down, Hayes was thrown from his R6 in a huge highside and knocked out of contention.

After his big spill, Hayes stood up, brushed himself off, and… well, was still a part of history.

Hayes' wife, Melissa Paris, was also in the Daytona 200 field that day and earned a very impressive 21st-place result (out of 75 entries) in her first-ever pro race. Paris, one of the more promising club racers in the United States, outpaced several familiar names, claimed the best-ever result for a female rider in the Daytona 200 in the process, and joined Josh in becoming the first husband and wife to ever compete against each other in the race.

SPEEDtv.com chatted with Josh and Melissa to find out how the unique relationship of America's first couple of speed ticks:


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