The season is finally here. Just cause we are not physically at the track does not mean we have not started racing! BMW Motorcycles of Atlanta has been working very hard to get ready for the season opener at Daytona. Preparing the BMWXPLOR.com R1200S's and the new and sole BMW entry into the Sun Trust MotoST series. That's right, BMW MCs of Atlanta is entering MotoST on its own. With support from enthusiast BMW riders and BMW MC Club of Ga. , we will enter the MotoST series at Daytona. Through purse money earned in the MotoST series, that will go towards the next round, and so on. With that incentive, the team has even more reason to work together.

My quest for the CCS #1 plate again will be a fun challenge, along with the National ASRA Pro Thunderbike Championship. With the momentum built up through the past few seasons with BMW clubs and rides, they now have more to look forward to! More and more riders are attending the races and leaving with an experience and feeling of loyalty to the brand.

I am also excited to say that Morton's BMW has prepared one of my back-up bikes for Richard Cooper, the highly talented rider from the UK with serious BMW Boxer experience. With a very tight budget and my own program going in Atlanta, I still wanted to find a way to help "Mini" Cooper (5'3" 118lbs) out. Mortons came through as did BMW MCs of ATL., via their own expense. Through hard work and selflessness, both dealerships have always been very inviting to the public. That also makes them very successful.

So, here is the schedule for Daytona: Thursday the 28th I am instructing in the Team Hammer School and practicing. Friday is the first official day of the Championship Cup Series (CCS) and American Sportbike Racing Association (ASRA). There will be practice, some sprints, and qualifying for the ASRA Pro Thunderbike. Sat., March 1st will be busy with multiple sprint races and the Pro Thunderbike final, capped off with a 2-hour MotoST practice. Then comes Sunday, March 2nd. This will be even busier than Sat, with even more CCS sprints and the MotoST Daytona 300 (3.5 hour endurance race). Whew, rather wooped just thining about it. Once the helmet is on and the flag drops, being wooped is the last thing on my mind!

We got some good testing in yesterday at JenningGP through excellent help from my head tech Bill Walls and great support from Paul Eberil. Tom and Sue from SidestandUP.com motorcycle radio show were also in attendance to see our BMW rip around the track.

SidestandUp.com is a great and growing motorcycle-only radio show. Each Tuesday I will be on and sharing in the fun of the 2008 season. SHOOT, I didnt realize the time, I have to get to the airport and pick up the Peanut Farmer (not literally, thank goodness at 240lbs of solid muscle)! Yep, he is back and ready to go!

Ok, so real quick...Sidi boots, Suomy Helmets, and Pirelli tires are back on board and better than ever. I am stoked to say that I will be wearing Kushitani race suits this season. Ultra-strong but very lightweight, pre-stretched leather. Wore them yesterday and they are awesome! Kushitani gloves, too! These are all main ingredients to a safe and fast season.

TTYouseL,

N8!