Treble Busy en Route to Reading
 

Reading, PA. – Pre Race:

In preparing for this weekend's 21st annual Toyo Tires NHRA Nationals at Maple Grove Raceway, Craig Treble has tried to jam as much as possible into the two weeks since the last NHRA national event.

"Immediately following Indy we did a complete re-wire on the Matco Tools / Lucas Oil Suzuki," said Treble. "It's the second time in the last month or so that we have done this, but I'm convinced that an electrical gremlin is hiding somewhere in this bike."

As is the case with any professional drag racer, horsepower is a key ingredient, so a trip to Indianapolis based engine builder Vance & Hines was also on the between race checklist.

"At Vance & Hines I was able to spend some time with Matt Hines and go over some details on the Matco Tools / Lucas Oil Suzuki," said Treble. "Stopping at the shop was good for more than just an engine check-up, I think we may have worked out a few bugs on the bike while I was there."

Considering the tweaks and changes the Matco Tools / Lucas Oil Suzuki has endured in the last 10 days, the Treble team will wisely swing into Norwalk, OH for some testing and tuning before heading off to Maple Grove Raceway.

"Like every other race we have gone to this season, we are optimistic that we have a chance to put the Matco Tools / Lucas Oil Suzuki into the winners circle in Reading."

The 21st annual Toyo Tires NHRA Nationals are the 13th of 15 national events on the 2005 NHRA POWERade Pro Stock Motorcycle drag racing tour
 

Treble Lasts Until Second Round in Reading
 

Reading, PA. – Post Race: 

Craig Treble rode the Matco Tools / Lucas Oil Suzuki to a second round finish in Pro Stock Motorcycle at the 21st annual Toyo Tires NHRA Nationals at Maple Grove Raceway.

"The first and second round runs today were pretty much like every other we made this weekend, and we're not happy about that," said Treble.

Following a fistful of 7.20's in qualifying, the Matco Tools / Lucas Oil Suzuki team continued searching on Sunday for a tune-up that would dip the bike into the teens', and be competitive enough to win rounds.

"We took what we had learned testing in Norwalk last week but found out early in Reading that it just wasn't repeating the way we needed it too," said Treble. "We were chasing the horsepower around all weekend."

A round one pairing against Army Suzuki rider Antron Brown was over early when Brown red-lighted away a quick 7.174 / 185.33 pass, putting the Matco Tools / Lucas Oil Suzuki into round two to face another Army team bike, this one of Angelle Sampey.

"We ran a 7.248 / 185.31 against Antron, which was slower than we figured we would need against Sampey, and unfortunately we were right," said Treble.

The round two battle had Treble out of the gate first with a .022 reaction time, but it was Sampey that reached the finish line first with a strong 7.185 / 185.41 pass.

"We just never found it this weekend," said Treble. "We have plenty of data and almost a month off until Vegas, hopefully between Harry and me, we can pour over the details and figure out why the bike wouldn't respond the way we wanted it to this weekend."

Reading Photos 2005