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The 2007 Pro Stock Motorcycle Champion, Matt Smith got off to a great start this past weekend at the motorcycles’ season-opener ACDelco Gatornationals in Gainesville, Fl.
After rain washed out both qualifying sessions on Friday, the entire professional classes would be forced to just two sessions to qualify for raceday. Smith took his great looking Nitrofish Buell at put it into the second position Saturday afternoon. Running a 6.972 et at 190.38 mph, Smith felt more than confident going into Sunday’s eliminations.
“I am very excited how we are running right now,” said Smith. “We honestly didn’t know if we would be up to par at this race, since we haven’t had a lot of time to prepare for it this off-season. But it looks like we are right back where we left off. We still have a lot of new things we are wanting to try and work with, but all in all we are pumped about the 2008 season.”
Squaring off against newcomer Edward Murphy first round on Sunday, Smith showed his calm manner well on the track as his opponent would red-light after a staging battle with the Champ. Smith’s kill switch would come out as he left the line forcing him to coast down the track, but with the win already in his lane, Smith would go into the second round.
Having to run Angelle Sampey second round, Smith knew he had to be ready. Cutting another great light (.029) and running an incredible time of 6.963 seconds at 189.23 mph, Smith would sail into the semi-finals.
This time having to match up against the Harley Davidson of Andrew Hines, Smith cut another great light (.014) as both would run identical 6.973 seconds, both at 190 mph, however with Hines cutting a perfect (.000) light, Smith would lose the ever-so-close round.
“Wow, is all I can say,” said Smith. “We did all we could do right there. I pulled on him in high, but it just wasn’t enough. It’s hard to beat someone with a perfect light, no matter what you do on the track. We ran extremely well all day and I am very pleased with how things have started off this season for this Nitrofish team. We are pumped and ready to get after it again at Houston.”
Smith sits third in the NHRA POWERade Championship point standings at the moment and will race again with the rest of the NHRA at Houston Raceway Park in two weeks.
Smith Has Great Start at Gainesville
The 2007 Pro Stock Motorcycle Champion, Matt Smith got off to a great start this past weekend at the motorcycles’ season-opener ACDelco Gatornationals in Gainesville, Fl.
After rain washed out both qualifying sessions on Friday, the entire professional classes would be forced to just two sessions to qualify for raceday. Smith took his great looking Nitrofish Buell at put it into the second position Saturday afternoon. Running a 6.972 et at 190.38 mph, Smith felt more than confident going into Sunday’s eliminations.
“I am very excited how we are running right now,” said Smith. “We honestly didn’t know if we would be up to par at this race, since we haven’t had a lot of time to prepare for it this off-season. But it looks like we are right back where we left off. We still have a lot of new things we are wanting to try and work with, but all in all we are pumped about the 2008 season.”
Squaring off against newcomer Edward Murphy first round on Sunday, Smith showed his calm manner well on the track as his opponent would red-light after a staging battle with the Champ. Smith’s kill switch would come out as he left the line forcing him to coast down the track, but with the win already in his lane, Smith would go into the second round.
Having to run Angelle Sampey second round, Smith knew he had to be ready. Cutting another great light (.029) and running an incredible time of 6.963 seconds at 189.23 mph, Smith would sail into the semi-finals.
This time having to match up against the Harley Davidson of Andrew Hines, Smith cut another great light (.014) as both would run identical 6.973 seconds, both at 190 mph, however with Hines cutting a perfect (.000) light, Smith would lose the ever-so-close round.
“Wow, is all I can say,” said Smith. “We did all we could do right there. I pulled on him in high, but it just wasn’t enough. It’s hard to beat someone with a perfect light, no matter what you do on the track. We ran extremely well all day and I am very pleased with how things have started off this season for this Nitrofish team. We are pumped and ready to get after it again at Houston.”
Smith sits third in the NHRA POWERade Championship point standings at the moment and will race again with the rest of the NHRA at Houston Raceway Park in two weeks.
