Gainesville: Chris Rivas Saturday notes

RIVAS QUALIFIES NINTH DURING SHORTENED GATORNATIONALS SESSION

GAINESVILLE, Fla., March 15, 2008 - Chris Rivas today, during a qualifying session rain-

shortened to two ¼-mile runs, rode the G2 Motorsports/Drag Specialties/S&S Cycle Pro Stock Motorcycle

into ninth position for tomorrow's 39th Annual ACDelco Gatornationals finals here.

Mechanical gremlins, including malfunctioning clutch and crank sensors, contributed to Rivas's

7.041-second lap at 190.27 miles per hour, but the Fresno, Calif. Native refused to make excuses.

"I just have to do my job better," said the 41-year-old S&S-powered V-Twin rider. "If I can make

clean passes, we will do just fine."

George Smith, G2/Drag Specialties/S&S crew chief, believes solving the mechanical problems will

result in a motorcycle capable of winning rounds.

"The motor, which is making good power, shut off twice during Chris's best run because of the

malfunctioning sensors," Smith said. "If we fix those and make the right adjustments in the tune up, we

definitely have a very competitive motorcycle, one which can win."

-credit: g2