TREBLE MOTIVATED FOR A MATCO TOOLS SUPERNATIONALS WIN

 Craig Treble is not about to brag about his hot start in the Pro Stock Motorcycle point standings. He is just going to remain calm, cool and ready to compete.
Treble won the first two events of the 14-race Pro Stock Motorcycle season. But he will be the first to admit they were not dominating victories.
"If you look back at the first two races of the season, we know we did not have the fastest bike out there," Treble said. "But we stayed focused and did our job. We stayed focused throughout the weekend and that was the bottom line. We were there, ready to take advantage of anyone's mistakes, and we were consistent. Years of bracket racing will help you become more consistent."
Treble will be looking for a third win in four races as he rides his Matco Tools Suzuki into the 33rd annual NHRA Matco Tools SuperNationals at Old Bridge Township Raceway Park, May 16-19. Kenny Bernstein, Tony Pedregon, Richie Stevens and Matt Hines are the defending winners in their respective categories for the $2 million race, the eighth of 23 events in the $50 million NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series.
Riding the event sponsor's motorcycle, however, does provide added motivation for Treble and the Matco Tools team.
"First and foremost, we are going into Englishtown with a desire for redemption," Treble said. "We lost in the first round last season and we want to make sure that doesn't happen again. When you are riding in front of the team sponsors, you want to have a great day at the track. That didn't happen last year.
"I'd give back the first two wins of the season in order to win Englishtown this year. If we win that race, it is going to be one big party."
Treble has had early success, but he is the first to point out how competitive the fields are at each national event.
"You are only as good as your last race," Treble said. "The most important thing we can do as a team right now is maintain our focus and not do anything stupid like shoot off at the mouth. There are at least 20 other riders out there who want to beat us. I don't blame them. I have been there many times trying to beat the riders at the top of the list too.
"It's a good feeling to get the first two wins of the season, and we do have some added confidence, but we are not going to get over-confident and do anything to lose our momentum. I've been in a pressure cooker situation before, and I know we have been extremely lucky so far this season."
A two-time sportsman champion, Treble switched to a new motorcycle before the start of the 2002 season. He said they are still trying to find the perfect set up.
"Last year we tweaked and tuned our bike to the point where we could not squeeze anything else out of it," Treble said. "We are still searching for the perfect tune-up with the new bike. We are just going to keep playing the hand we have been dealt and not go into any race with a big ego."
While he is aiming to be the most consistent and focused rider in the Pro Stock Motorcycle category, Treble said he is also keeping it as fun as possible.
"Racing at any level is fun," Treble said. "If it wasn't fun, I wouldn't be out here. The professional ranks are different from any other level because it is a lot more serious and there is a lot more money on the line. There is also more at stake at the pro level because there are so many people involved with any team. You want to keep the sponsors happy, like Matco Tools. Still, we have a lot of fun racing. There is nothing like racing in the Pro Stock Motorcycle category."