Treble continues hot streak in Denver.
 

Morrison, Colo. – Sunday Post Race: For the third time in as many races, Craig Treble rode the Matco Tools Suzuki to a runner up finish, this time against Shawn Gann at the Mile-High Nationals in Denver, Colorado.

Treble started the day with a win over local favorite Mike Berry in round one, then continued with a holeshot victory over Angelle Savoie in round two.

"We hurt something in the transmission when we ran Angelle, so we needed to go back and service the motor before the semi-finals," said Treble. "We have changed motors in the bike three times this weekend, and I think we may be close to needing more Matco Tools soon." 

Unfortunately, not only would the Treble team need to change motors one more time, but the Matco Tools would get thoroughly tested by almost dozen helping hands.

After a red light start by NHRA Pro Stock Bike points leader Andrew Hines in the semi-finals, the Matco Tools machine broke a crankshaft midway through the run, then caught fire at the finish line, still traveling about 140 mph.

"I have never had anything like that happen to me before," said Treble. "The crank broke and kicked a hole in the cases, which let the oil come out all over the exhaust. I could feel the fire but I still had to get the bike slowed down, so I just held my leg up high enough so I wouldn't get burned."

With the NHRA Safety Safari quickly rolling in, Treble was already planning the engine swap that would need to be done within the NHRA mandated 75-minute turn around time.

"Mike Stevens and I had already swapped engines this weekend so I figured we would just have to do it again, but quicker," said Treble. "What I was worried about was the damage from the fire, and if we would get time to fix and replace everything that needed attention."

By the time the Craig and the Matco Tools bike could make it back to the trailer, a group of Vance & Hines riders, team members, and customers were there to help.

"I really can't thank all of them enough," said Treble. "Everyone from both Vance & Hines Harley teams was over here helping.  Joe Vanderbrink, Michael Phillips, Geno Scali, Gary Stoffer and others pitched in to the point that I actually did more running for drinks than wrenching on the bike."

Heading to the starting line with his "C" motor and slightly singed leathers, Treble and entourage prepared for a race with another rider who was on a hot streak of his own in Denver. Shawn Gann had advanced through three red lighting opponents into the final round, and was looking for his second win of the season.

After a bit of starting line drama in which NHRA starter Rick Stewart came close to shutting off Treble due to some leakage from the bike, Gann left first and took a wire-to-wire win, 7.654 seconds at 174.23 mph, to Trebles 7.715 second, 172.21 mph run.

"I have to say that I am proud to be associated with two of the finest businesses around," said Treble. "Matco Tools is the best and give me the support I need to race at this level, and Vance & Hines continues to help me with everything from engines to advice, as they have since I started racing Pro Stock Bike."

Treble's runner-up finish moved the Matco Tools Suzuki rider up into fourth place on the NHRA POWERade championship points sheet for 2004.
 

Treble fifth in rain shortened qualifying.
 

Morrison, Colo. – Qualifying Pit Note: Qualifying for the NHRA Pro Stock Bike field at the Mile-High Nationals in Denver, Colorado was cut in half, with only two of the four scheduled sessions being run due to rain throughout the day on Friday. 

Craig Treble used the two Saturday sessions to first qualify well, and then take a shot at testing a new combination. The Matco Tools Suzuki charged to a 7.567 second, 1775.42 mph run to take the No. 2 qualifying position in the initial qualifying round. 

"Our first run was pretty good, and would have been better if I would have done a few little things differently," explained Treble. "On the mountain it seems to take forever for the one-two gear change, and I missed it which did cost us some elapsed time." 

With a spot in the show solidly secure, the Matco Tools Suzuki team switched to a new motor for a quick test and tune to gather information for Sunday's eliminations. A tame 7.658 second, 175.59 mph a pass settled Treble into the No. 5 spot on the final qualifying sheet. 

"The second run was just to gather data, and the truth is that it was a horrible run," said Treble. "It told us what we wanted to know so there was some value in it, but we ran through the clutch so bad that the 7.658 number was much better than it felt." 

Craig Treble and the Matco Tools Suzuki team will take on last year's Mile-High Nationals Pro Stock Bike runner-up and local favorite Mike Berry in round one of Sunday morning eliminations.
 

Friday - Rainout
 

Rain - Rain - Rain - Rain - Rain

Treble loves the mountain, regardless.
 

Morrison, Colo. - Pre-race: The allure of NHRA drag racing is speed and the quest to go faster, and for every racer the challenge is to run quicker on the next pass. Fans spend much of the season following their drivers as they compete across the country, hoping that new national records will be set by their particular favorite.

At this weekends running of the Mile-High Nationals in Denver, Colorado, there will be no new professional national speed records broken, but yet nearly every racer on the tour will admit that coming and competing on the mountain is one of the highlights of the season, despite the slower elapsed times.

"Bandimere Speedway is easily one of the nicest and best run racetracks in the country," said Craig Treble. "We all deal with running at this high altitude differently, but other than running slower than we usually do, this place is one of the best." 

Treble will be looking to qualify his Matco Tools Suzuki in the Pro Stock Bike class, then advance to another final round. Following runner-up finishes at the last two stops on the tour, Treble is anxious to find the winners circle in Denver. 

"Last year we made a bad call in eliminations and went out early," explained Treble. "We knew what we did wrong with the Matco Tools Suzuki, so we helped Blaine Hale for the rest of the event. Blaine then won his first NHRA Pro Stock Bike race so it was gratifying in one sense, but our goal will be to put our bike in the winners circle this year." 

"We will show up in Denver with our bike painted in the Matco Tools 25th anniversary colors that we used early this season," said Treble. "Now that we have or 2004 paint back on, we want to win one for Matco, and look good doing it."

The Mile-High Nationals is the 8th of 15 events on the NHRA POWERade Pro Stock Bike Drag Racing Series tour

Denver Photos 2004