Spirits high for Arana after NHRA Midwest Nationals

ST. LOUIS – Turning his Sunday around at Gateway Motorsports Park, Pro Stock Motorcycle rider Adam Arana rode like a veteran throughout the AAA Insurance NHRA Midwest Nationals.

Getting off the starting line first, Arana jumped to an early lead thanks to a .033 reaction time compared to defending champion Matt Smith’s .065. Arana didn’t look back after that, motoring his ProtectTheHarvest.com/MAVTV Buell to a holeshot win over Smith in the first round.

“The bike felt a little better today but it just wasn’t enough,” Arana said. “The bike is still not running the way it should be. I beat Matt on a holeshot and I had almost the same reaction time in the second round as I did in the first. It’s a good feeling; I just want to go further.”

With their feud continuing in Gateway, Arana was able to even the score out at three wins each this season with his first-round triumph.

“It’s nice,” Arana said. “He’s obviously a good rider; you don’t win two championships if you can’t ride a bike. To be able to go and beat him like that is a really good feeling.”

Needing another perfect light in the second round of eliminations against No. 1 Eddie Krawiec, Arana put up a .031 reaction time to beat him off the line. Trying to keep his lead down the track, Arana’s 6.943-second pass just wasn’t enough to hold off Krawiec’s 6.856.

“It’s too close,” Arana said. “It’s too competitive of a field to win races on the Tree anymore. I feel like my riding is good but it’s not winning rounds. I obviously need to try something different.

“We’re thinking about testing tomorrow, but either way I need to go over everything on my bike with a fine-tooth comb.”

Arana will look to carry the success from this weekend over to the next race, the NHRA Nationals at Maple Grove Raceway, Oct. 2-5, in Reading, Pa.