A New Win Streak for G2?
BRAINERD, Minn. -- The G2 Motorsports NHRA Pro Stock Motorcycle team steams into Brainerd, Minnesota hoping to back-up Chip Ellis's Sonoma win on the DRAG Specialties/S&S Cycle Buell with more of the same. The team started winning back in June with Matt Smith's Englishtown victory on the Torco Race Fuels/Skull Gear Buell, but had their momentum broken when the shifter malfunctioned on Ellis's bike at Denver.
"We're really overwhelmed trying to get these motorcycles ready for the race," said Ellis, who sacrificed the team's favorite S&S motor "007" in the Sonoma win. The heads from 007 have been mated to the 028 brand new bottom end, as the team struggles to maintain they edge they've worked so hard for in the most competitive PSM season ever.
The team also has some promising new S&S motors that they will be trying out in Smith's Torco/Skull bike. "We've got a new motor that's made good power on the dyno that we'll be putting in Matthew's bike," said G2 tuner/crew chief George Bryce. "We've also rewired the bike with new switches and a whole new wiring harness to see if we can make him go faster than he's been going."
"Charlie Hadayia and Steve Rominski of S&S brought up two of the strongest motors that S&S has built so far, and we're putting one of them in Matt's bike," said George Smith of G2 and S&S. "We know Matt can ride and we've got to make sure we've done our part to give him the best possible equipment."
"They're putting in what they call 006," said Matt, who spent some quality family time since Sonoma. "We went to Blue Creek Lake and played. My whole family-my sister Melissa flew in, my dad Rickie, mom Nancy, my girlfriend Marti, and my son Tristan. We took the boat and three jet skis and had a good time."
Matt also expects more of the same at Brainerd, a track known for good times. "I've never really run here a lot, but I like this place. It's awesome. 'The Zoo' is the place to go to. The fans, the racers-they're all there. It's a big party. You'll see everybody there-John Force, Ron Capps-everybody who is anybody."
"Historically, we've done well at Brainerd," said Bryce. "Reggie Showers was number 1 qualifier there when he raced with us, and John Myers won there a lot of times. Jim Bernard and John Myers got first and second when they had matching bikes."
Bryce then fast-forwarded to the present, or the very near future when the NHRA tech committee decides after Brainerd whether or not parity reigns in the ultra-competitive PSM field. "I hear rumors that the NHRA's thinking about slowing us down after this race. If they do it will be a weight addition for Buells, which would really be sad because we've all worked so hard to make our program competitive."
"I can only echo what George is saying," added George Smith. "The NHRA tech committee has done a very good job, and I think that parity and competitiveness across the two dozen bikes that regularly take part in the races is the best it's been. I'm gonna give the NHRA the benefit of the doubt on this that they'll do the right thing. If you look at the top 10 in points, you've got pretty good distribution amongst the manufacturers.
"As for Brainerd, we're gonna pick up where we left off and overcome the destruction of number 007. We intend to keep our streak going, and we're also looking to pick up Matt's bike's performance to where it should be."
