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ENNIS, Texas. -- Chris Rivas missed an important racing opportunity Sunday when the G2 Motorsports Drag Specialties S&S Cycle V-Twin Pro Stock Buell refused to start in the first round of NHRA's Countdown to 1 Pro Stock Motorcycle showdown at Charlotte. It wasn't the first time it happened and George Bryce, George Smith, Ken Johnson, Rivas and everyone involved with the team are hoping it will be the last. After a long and grueling two days at the shop that involved a lot of rewiring and many, many, many, restarts, the team feels ready to "hit it hard" at the start of the O'Reilly Super Starter Batteries Fall Nationals, Friday through Sunday, at the Texas Motorplex in Ennis. It is the second of five races for the 10 Pro Stock Motorcycle riders in contention for the season's top prize. A bewildered Rivas reported Wednesday that the crew returned to its Americus, Ga., shop Monday and tried to start the engine. It only came to life after several failed attempts. This situation has baffled everyone involved. "We wouldn't go to Dallas if we weren't confident that the situation has been at least minimized," added Rivas. "We are working on some new ideas for the fuel injection, but they won't be ready before Dallas. At this point all we can do is hope and pray that it works. In fact maybe we need to have a little prayer service before we start this weekend. We don't know what else to do." Rivas qualified second for Sunday's race before the bike became balky. He was fifth going into the first final Countdown segment but slipped to eighth, 81 points behind leader Matt Smith. "The team is going to work on the problem at the shop for as long as they can before they must leave for Dallas," said Rivas. Qualifying begins Friday at 3 p.m., and it's quite likely the team will be trying to start the motor a number of times before Rivas goes to the starting line.
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