Semi final
finish for Treble in wine country.
Sonoma, CA - Post
Race: For the first time in his POWERade Pro Stock Motorcycle
career, Craig Treble put his
Matco Tools Suzuki on the pole, set the track record for Pro
Stock Bikes, and recorded his personal best Elapsed Time,
a 7.062 in his title defense at Fram Autolite NHRA Nationals
in Sonoma.
Treble then backed
up his qualifying performance with fast runs during Sunday's
eliminations. With low ET in round two, and second fastest
in round one, it looked like the Matco Tools team was about
to capture their first NHRA event win of the season. Facing
POWERade point leader Geno Scali in round three, the Matco
Tools bike again looked like it was about to lead the way
to the finish line when engine failure stopped the Treble
bike in the semi-final match.
"We were really
in a position to win this event, we had a fast bike here and
a good combination to work with." Said Treble. "Even
on the last run I felt it was on a great pass, then the motor
let go and I it was all over. I needed to put Geno out right
then and there and start making up some ground in the points
chase. We're not yet there, but soon Scali will be un-catchable.
We are going to run out of races at some point."
Trebles finish in
Sonoma moved the Matco Tools Suzuki rider from 6th to 4th
place in the NHRA POWERade championship points battle. With
six of fifteen events remaining, the Pro Stock Bikes now head
to the land of 10,000 lakes for the Lucas Oil Nationals in
Brainerd Minnesota, August 14 - 17, 2003
Treble
earns first career No. 1 qualifying position.
Sonoma, CA - Saturday Pit Note: On the strength of a career
best 7.062 run in Saturday's first qualifying session, Craig
Treble kept the Matco Tools Suzuki in the No. 1 qualifying
spot in the quickest field in NHRA Pro Stock Bike history,
and re-set the track record at the Fram Autolite NHRA Nationals
in Sonoma.
Trebles held the
top spot throughout qualifying Friday with a 7.179 at 181.89
MPH, but improved Saturday morning when he needed to when
his top spot was challenged by Shawn Gann and Reggie Showers,
who each posted 7.07 runs of their own.
"I really didn't
think that we would see these kind of elapsed times here this
weekend, but as long as I keep the Matco Tools Suzuki ahead
of the rest of the pack, I love it," noted Treble."
"I am really
proud of my crew guys Mike and Calvin, and how our team just
kept working on this bike until we finally got the gremlins
out of it. It is very rewarding to have all our work payoff
by earning our first No. 1 qualifying position".
Treble holds
top spot through Friday qualifying.
Sonoma, CA - Friday
Pit Note: Craig Treble rolled out of the trailer Friday, and
put his Matco Tools Suzuki in the top spot at the Fram Autolite
NHRA Nationals in Sonoma. Trebles 7.179 second run at 181.89
MPH put him on the POWERade Pro Stock Bike pole after the
first session.
In Fridays second qualifying session nearly every rider improved,
but not enough to knock Craig from the top spot. "We
have been working really hard on a few specific things in
the last two weeks, and it is rewarding to run strong like
we have so far this weekend." Said Craig.
"Our first
run helped us find the track and where we were at, and I think
that tomorrow we can get a bit more out of it and hopefully
hold on to the number one spot. We need to get some round
wins here in Sonoma, and running well in qualifying is the
first step in defending our win here last season.
Treble
anxious to defend Sonoma event title
Sonoma, CA - Pre
Race: For one final time this season, Craig Treble will enter
a NHRA POWERade event with the goal of defending his win from
the previous season. At the Fram Autolite NHRA Nationals in
Sonoma, The Matco Tools Suzuki rider believes he can repeat
his performance from last year and come away with another
win
"We have been
all over this bike since the last event in Denver" said
Treble. "I spent a week at Vance & Hines going through
my engines, then Mike and I went to Woodburn and tested during
the Pro Stock Invitational". During testing at Woodburn,
the Matco Tools bike ripped elapsed times of 7.19 and 7.20,
all while the Pro Stock Cars were running 6.90's, a full .154
off their pace from Seattle.
"I've been
here before during this season, but I feel we have the bike
straightened out, we have plenty of power, and I can't wait
to get to Sonoma and race." said Craig." last season
we had great air to race in at Infineon Raceway, but I don't
think the weather will support the speeds we ran in '02"
Visit
the Craig Treble Matco Tools Pro Stock Bike web site to find
results, pictures, and information before and after every
NHRA POWERade national event. www.craigtreble.com
2002 Highlights:
