Hayes has been riding a Honda CBR600RR in Europe with ever-improving results. Portugal, the last race of the season, was his most impressive outing yet. Hayes was impressive in qualifying, and started from eighth on the grid. By lap six, though, he was already in the breakaway top four, and by lap eight he was in the lead!

Like most 600 racing, the leaders were extremely close, and the lead changed many times. But Hayes was definitely in contention, clocking second for two laps and third for four more. And he was running with a world-class pack: four Hondas riding by the cream of the World Supersport crop. The eventual race winner was Kenan Sofuoglu, last year’s champion who’s been competing in World Superbike and who was making a one-off appearance in Portugal on a 600. Finishing second was this year’s World Champion, Andrew Pitt, also on a CBR600RR. And Hayes just barely (about a hundredth of a second) lost out on third to Joán Lascorz, also on a CBR600RR. In short, for a rider on unfamiliar tracks and on a bike he’s only ridden a handful of times, it was a brilliant showing. Will Hayes be racing in America or Europe next year? We’ll have to wait a little on that answer.

As a season wrap-up, the top three bikes in overall championship points for 2008 were Honda CBR600RRs. Hondas also won 11 out of the 13 races this year, often sweeping the podium—an awesome record in anyone’s book.

World Supersport Results

1. K. Sofuoglu (HONDA)
2. A. Pitt (HONDA)
3. J. Lascorz (HONDA)
4. J. Hayes (HONDA)
5. B. Parkes (YAM)
6. G. Nannelli (HONDA)
7. S. Sanna (HONDA)
8. G. Vizziello (HONDA)
9. M. Aitchison (Triumph)
10. F. Foret (YAM)

Supersport Standings

1. Andrew Pitt (HONDA) 214
2. Jonathan Rea (HONDA) 164
3. Josh Brookes (HONDA) 162
4. Broc Parkes (YAM) 150
5. Joán Lascorz (HONDA) 121
6. Fabien Foret (YAM) 111
7. Craig Jones (HONDA) 100
8. Barry Veneman (SUZ) 92
9. Robbin Harms (HONDA) 71
10. Gianluca Nannelli (HONDA) 70