Only 7 points separate me from San Jose BMW's Brian Parriott. The objective was clear, beat Brian. To win this championship we need to beat Brian at least once and most likely twice in these last three races. A tall order, but I have beaten him here before, and I was determined to do it again.

Thunderhill's new track surface presented new challenges which Ken Hill helped me turn into an advantage with a new setup and riding plan. We worked it out on Friday and Saturday and I felt good going into Sunday's race. Scott had the bike ready for battle so it was now up to me.

Morning warm up and rider's meeting done, call to grid and out lap completed, face shield down, first gear engaged, eyes trained on the starter and a green flag away from all hell breaking loose. That feeling, that instant, is second to none. A sensory bouillabaisse of emotional and physical ingredients that conspire to deliver a blast of energy that defies description. Everything is working together, brain, body and bike to get out and get away....to the front.

Tom Montano (3rd in points) was out quick on his Munroe Motors Ducati 1098 and getting to turn 1 just ahead of my Desmoto 749 with Brian and his 1200 BMW tucking in just behind me. I was on Tom quick showing him a wheel in turn 2, again in turn 3 and again in turn 4, finally going up the inside into turn 6. I stayed at the front for 2 laps until Tom came up the inside of me to take the lead in turn 10. I got him back by turn 6 and he got me again in turn 10. It went like that for the next two laps and it was the most fun I have ever had in a race! I had to be perfect exiting onto the back and front straights to keep him and his bigger motor from gapping me. I could get him in the tighter sections, in the first half of the track, but he was strong on the brakes into turn 10 which was trouble as the finish was only a few turns and a couple straights away where his bigger motor was an advantage.

White flag out, heading into turn 1 and right on Tom's ass, I had to make my move. I went for it again in turn 6 and got him! Now I just had to hold him off for the next 9 turns! All was good until we got to turn 10. I protected the inside, where he had passed me before, but in doing so, I left the outside open and he pounced on me and made a good, clean pass. F! I had a better drive out of the "esses" and came up alongside him heading down the back straight but he just pulled me into turn 14, opportunity lost. We came up on a lapper mid way between the double apex turn 14/15. Cool! This is my chance! Tom went inside, the lapper held him up a bit, I went outside and had my 749 screaming as I went full throttle heading out onto the final straight towards the checkered! Splitting the lapper on the exit (poor guy must have thought he was in a blender as we blew by!) Tom on the inside, me on the outside, both of us side by side, tucked in, clicking through the gears, racing to the finish line! I was screaming "nooooo..." as he just pulled me....slow motion, helpless, inches apart at 160mph, throttle pinned. But it was not to be, Tom's 1098 had that little bit needed to pull me to the line, half a bike length ahead and taking the win! Argghhhh!!!!!

Although it hurts to get that close and come up short, I was happy that I had a legitimate battle with a racer of Tom's caliber. I made him work for that one! We also got down to a 1:52.5 on the last lap which is about 2 seconds quicker than our fast lap at July's race. That's movin!

Oh, and Brian? He was way back in 3rd, never a threat which was good. We go back to Infineon in 3 weeks which is none too soon. I want another shot! The annual AFM 4 hour is also that weekend and I will team up again with Schwannie as we try to improve on last year's third place and go for the win!