It should have been that easy, but of course, it was not, as the team learned upon arrival that the AMA were allowing a larger capacity tank for the race. A team member was dispatched by car to Atlanta, a seven-hour drive one-way, to have an extension welded to a stock tank. This was not the last they would hear about gas tanks, as you will see in a second.

Typical garage scene with one mechanic working on the race bike, which by now sported the stock tank.

With two bikes on track twice a day on Wednesday and Thursday, team mechanics were fighting exhaustion to fine tune the suspensions and carry out general maintenance on the bikes. McCormick calmly went about the business of riding a 200+ hp machine on a rough, banked and very high speed track, while building up his knowledge of the conditions enough to keep the bike flat out on the 33 degree banking. Off the bike, he kept his friendly disposition while making intelligent comments and enjoying the whole scene. If he felt any pressure, it did not show in any way - a cool kid if ever I saw one.

In the Superbike race, run on Thursday, Brett started on the fourth row after improving his times every time he went out. He kept getting quicker after the green flag, moving up to 12th before a slight miscalculation while entering corner one forced him to go straight on, then turn around and get back on the track after losing around 15 positions. He clawed his way back up to 21st place at the end of the 15 lap race.

The braking incident showed how good his race judgment is. Corner 1 at Daytona is a 60km/h left hander at the end of a 300 km/h straight, with all the braking done while leaned over. This a good place to make up time, so Brett kept playing with the limit as the race went on, which allowed him to pass four racers during the early laps. He kept trying hard, but when he came in too hot and judged that he would not make the corner, he decided early on to go straight on, rather than try anyway and risk a fall. Smart ! I suspect he will not only be quick at the start of our season, but that he will get quicker as the season goes on. The show in the Parts Canada Superbike Championship, where he will also race a Sport Bike 600, promises some great racing.

Young Brett getting down to business on the 2009 GSX-R1000 Superbike.