The 2002 season, however, would see Hayden answering the bell: he won the Daytona 200 on a Honda Superbike en route to becoming the youngest ever AMA Superbike Champion, defeating reigning triple champion Mat Mladin, among others.
Namun di musim 2002, Hayden menjawab panggilan tersebut: dia memenangkan Daytona 200 dengan Honda Superbike dalam perjalanannya menjadi pemenang AMA Superbike termuda, mengalahkan 3 kali juara bertahan, Mat Mladin, di antara yang lain.