Pulling away from the shop at 11:00pm Wednesday night, both bikes in the truck, I felt both relieved and impressed. Relieved that my bikes were ready to roll and impressed (not surprised!) that Scott was able to get everything done. Seriously, these bikes have some pretty trick stuff on them now, a lot of it custom made, so getting it all put together and ready for the AFM BW opener (between all my "off season" races and track days) is an engineering and logistics feet worthy of special praise. Thanks Scott, you are amazing!!

Packed up all my stuff Thursday morning (jeez, what a F'g production this sport is...haha, but I love it!) grabbed Val, spun my ipod wheel to the Buttonwillow playlist and turned my growling turbo diesel truck and trailer southbound as we were off to chase Schwannie and Alysia in their "terrorist van" down I5 as we agreed to hook up at Harris Ranch for some killer steaks.

I guess I got my "race face" on a bit early as I got a speeding ticket on I5! I was just trying to get around a few big-rigs and a not-so-friendly CHP thought a truck pulling a trailer at 70mph was worth pulling me over. As I attempted to explain (I thought profiling was illegal!), Val shot me a "stink eye" reminding me not to piss this guy off as I was also a homeland security risk with 50 gallons of race fuel in the trailer and I didn't need my personality-deprived, gun-wearing, ticket-book-waving friend uncovering my hi-octane stash! Funny thing was, about 10 miles down the road after we left the crime scene he was again on my tail as I was passing yet another big truck; this time at a painfully slow, legal speed, holding up my boy in blue a fair bit...hahaha. I thought it was funny as shit...Val thinks I'm maturity-challenged.

We got the garage sorted early Friday morning and all was ready for racer practice. The plan was to break-in the A bike, confirm our race setting and get a bit more time on the Pirelli's. All was good but half way through the second session going down the front straight, back-shifting to scrub-off speed from around 130mph, my chain decided to jump ship leaving me with no motor breaking to slow me down for the first turn. SHIT! My first thought was I caught a false neutral, which sucks, so I engaged the clutch, used every bit of my new front race Brembo's to slow me down, balls safely lodged in throat, and somehow got through the turn! I tried to re-engage a gear but it wouldn't go, so I raised my hand (almost got ass-packed by some knucklehead who was right on my line) and pulled off, where I noticed I was chainless. As I pushed my Italian supermodel back to the paddock I couldn't help but wonder what would have happened if the chain got tangled up and locked the rear wheel...ugly.

Other than that, Friday went well. We tested a few things, found a good set up and finished the day feeling good. Schwannie, on the other hand, after going well in the morning, uncovered a bearing problem in his motor which meant he wouldn't be riding. Ouch, he makes a big commitment to do this as he lives in New York, so to say he was disappointed would be an understatement! However, Scott Jenkins said he could ride his 749R(848) but he'd have to go get it as it was sitting in the shop, 4 1/2 hours north in San Francisco! "Cool, thanks!" and like that Scott and Alysia jumped in their white rental "terrorist van" and bolted up to SF to get the bike.....and then turn around and drove back!! It would be midnight before they were back at the hotel, but he had the bike, a few other parts (like another fuel tank for me as mine was leaking...race fuel leaking on red hot exhaust pipes...not good!) a few hours sleep and Saturday would be a whole new deal!! Like Val said, the guy is a STUD!

Saturday went well for everyone in the garage. I finished breaking in the A bike and was finalizing stuff on the B bike which is the bike I would race on Sunday. Scwhannie was flying on his replacement ride and Ian Glidden was coming to terms with Buttonwillow for the first time as he geared up to do his first ever AFM race! Ian, who in the last couple of years has been inValuable in helping us at the races, is a Ducati track day rider that got tired of watching us race and decided to come out and join us this year. Fresh off his New Racer School, Ian would be entering the Clubman races on Saturday, and if he could get under the lap cutoff times he would be racing with us in Open Twins on Sunday as a Novice. And that he did!! He had a great, error free, clean, solid first race with times that qualified him for Sunday's show....great stuff, congrats Ian, it was really fun watching you go in your first ever race!!! We have a new nick name for Ian "speed shifter"! Ian doesn't have an electronic quick shift on his bike, nor does he use a gp shift pattern. So, as our new racer came flying down the front straight on his red Ducati 748, he was totally old school baby, using the clutch for each gear upshift and dropping his toe under his lever to click up for the next higher gear. What's awesome to watch is how he does it....elbows and knees flying in aggressive harmony! Ian, we're gonna get you a quickshifter for Christmas!! Seriously, well done Ian and congrats on your first Novice AFM Open Twins result on Sunday...it was great being out there with you. Ken Hill went out on Saturday to race F40 and after starting on the 6th row was in second by the end of lap one and in first a lap later after getting by class champion Mike Thompson. Ken flat out flew doing low 1:50's on a bike that wasn't behaving like he wanted. Impressive!

We ended Saturday on top of the time sheets for the Open Twins guys running low 1:53's and all the boys were out there...Montano, Parriott, Mclean, Schwannie and a surging Eddy and Steve. We felt good, and I thought there was a bit more there for the race if we could get away clean and up front. We all went to get some Mexican food in Bakersfield and then bed, everyone was pretty cooked.

Sunday.....RACE DAY! I love waking up on race day. Excitement, nerves, anticipation, focus, expectation, and the ultimate unanswered question: "What is gonna happen??" We got to the track early, it was a bit chilly, but it would warm up soon as the weather had been perfect for riding with Sunday expected to get into the low 80's. Bikes were ready, new rubber, and we prepared for morning warm up. I typically don't go out in warm up at race pace, electing to focus on lines, make sure bike (especially clutch) is working fine, scrub in my tires and get my head into race day. But today was a bit different, I just felt good and I was back into the low :53's without much effort so I was feeling comfortable but quick. Val keeps a good eye on me out there and when I came in she (official team keeper!) told me my times and said I looked comfortable so I felt ready. We headed off to the riders meeting, hats off and hand over heart for the national anthem and then it was game time baby...we were race 2 so in about 30 mins we would be out there, lined up for the first time in '08 to do battle!!

"3rd and final call" rang out over the PA system, Scott fires up the bike, tire warmers off, Val gives me a kiss with my helmet on (I won't go out on track without this good luck ritual), Scott gives me a slap on the back (which I also have to feel before I leave the garage), bike off the stands, click first gear and out to the grid I go. As I finish the out lap and find my grid position, I see Ian in the back of the grid and give him a tap on the arm as I ride by, gesturing good luck, I'm stoked for him.

We are on the front row, position 2, which is afforded to us at the first race of the season because of our 2nd place standing in the championship last year. On my left is Craig Mclean, #1 from last year and to my right are AMA heavy hitters Tom Montano and Brian Parriott (7th overall in this years Daytona 200 and on a borrowed Ducati as his BMW was having electrical problems) and on the outside of row 1 the unmistakable dreadlocks of Lance Williams reaching from beneath his helmet to the tail section of his new 1098R. The 2 board is raised from the starter tower, face shields down, clutch levers in, bikes click into gear and as the 1 board is shown, bodies hunch over bikes as the rpm's rise.....once that board goes sideways, we all watch the starter for any clue that he is about to cut us loose with the green flag. Time stands still, it's strangely quiet, almost serene for that instant before the green flag flies, and then.......bang! The green flag fly's, the sound of 30 twins roar as bikes lurch forward and before you have time to think you are clicking through the gears exploding to turn 1 inches apart and fighting for position. The start is the best, hard core, super intense, surreal, I love it!!

I didn't get away very well, 4th into turn 1. I had the rpm's too high at the start and the bike wheelied forcing me to short shift to get the front down...I wheelied all the way down the start, through 3rd gear before setting it down and tipping it in. I was up on Lance quick but Tom and Craig were getting away and it's hard to pass in the first 5 turns so I was anxious to get by Lance before Craig "you just gotta loose your mind on the first lap" Mclean and Tom gapped me. However, by the time we got to turn 4 the red flag was flying signaling the race was stopped, undoubtedly for a turn one crash behind us. As we came to a forced stop by the bus stop, we looked back and sure enough there was a mid pack pile up in turn 1. From what I could see there were at least 3 bikes down, one rider was still on track and the ambulance rolled to tend to him. The other two guys were up and appeared ok. (note: It appears Shirwick Min had another turn one crash collecting the other riders as he fell at the apex). They let us off the track and I went back to the garage, Scott put the tire warmers back on and added a splash of fuel as I sat in my gear and waited for the call back to the grid for the restart. Good news was that I would have another crack at the start and I thought through my plan of attack as I sat and waited. "3rd and final call for Open Twins Race 2" rang out so I was back on the bike, Scott slapped me on the back, and I was out for the restart.

Back in P2, 2 board went up, then the 1 board, sidewaaaaays......green flag and we were off!! This time I had a much better start and was first to turn one, hole shot! But, it didn't last long as the wily veteran in Tom Montano screamed up my inside and took me into turn 2, bastard! hahaha. I stuck behind him and we hauled the mail out to riverside where I was still behind him. Out to lost hills, around the sweeper, through the esses and down to the last turn before coming out onto the start finish straight and I was still on his ass. "Cool" I thought, I've never been behind Tom this long, so I tucked in going down the straight completing lap one ringing the neck of my 749/848 trying not to loose too much ground to the bigger 1098 carrying the "smallest man in the world 007" legendary Tom Montano. And it went like that for the next 3 laps. I would close up on him in the tight stuff, catch him up in riverside, knee down 100+ mph doing mid 1:51's but still not enough to get by him. Once I figured out (at least on this day)that I could hang with him, I made a plan as to where I would try to pass him. Coming out of riverside and transitioning into lost hills would be the spot...on the outside left that would then be the inside going into lost hills would be the move I would make this time around on lap 4. As we entered riverside, fast, I drifted a bit wide, off his left so that I could apex hard and drive to get up to him, show him a wheel and take over the line going into lost hills. It all worked great, and for that moment exiting riverside, before the apex, drifting out, being patient, inches away from Tom's rear wheel, over 100mph, knee down, hung off the bike....it was magic, comfortable, fun...everything I love about this sport was captured in that instant. It's funny how your mind can slow things down and devour its relevance, it was the highlight of the race for me. Back to reality, I went up on Tom and took over the position. Holy shit, I just passed Tom Montano!! But like the start, it didn't last for long as there was a back marker going into lost hills at the worst possible time for me and I had to make a quick decision, inside or outside and I picked the wrong side (sometimes you win and sometimes not when you come up on slower riders) so as I had to slow a bit so I didn't take him out on the exit, Tom, showing his experience waited a bit, picked the clean line and crushed me on the exit......bastard!! I got on him again, chased him around on the white flag lap, got close again in the infield and through riverside but couldn't get by and unless he made a mistake (hahaha, not much chance of that happening!)I was gonna run out of time before the checkered. And that's how it ended, 7/10ths of a second behind him for a close second place and some 24 seconds up on Schwannie in 3rd place. It was a great race for me. To be on Tom's ass the whole race was a feet in itself for me. The bike was awesome, and it was a great result for the team and a good start to the season. Tom will be my Strongmail/Desmoto Sport team mate in the upcoming AMA FX races so it was cool to ride with him, watch him and hopefully I earned a bit of his respect for a good clean ride.

No rest for the team as we are off to Cal Speedway this weekend for two days of testing the bikes. Ken Hill will be there along with Scott and Lucy to test some shocks, tires and work out our data logging software for the first time. Should be fun!!

If you want to email me, go to the contact us page on the site and address it to Matt. I will get an email set up soon for the new site., which is awesome, don't you think?!!

c'ya!

Matt