Chris Rivas always felt he'd have the opportunity to avenge his five-point championship loss to Eddie Krawiec in 2008 in the NHRA Pro Stock Motorcycle division.

Barring an eleventh hour miracle, Rivas will be on the sidelines for the 2009 season, the unfortunate victim of a sluggish economy and to a lesser degree, a recent rule change that he and others feel shackle the Buell (S&S Engine) combination with a marginal chance of winning races, or a championship.

Team owners George Smith and George Bryce have elected to sit out the 2009 s eason with the G-Squared/S&S Buell team.

“We knew at the end of the 2008 season that it was going to be tough to squeeze out a team because of the upcoming economic situation,” Rivas said. Chris Rivas always felt he'd have the opportunity to avenge his five-point championship loss to Eddie Krawiec in 2008 in the NHRA Pro Stock Motorcycle division.

Barring an eleventh hour miracle, Rivas will be on the sidelines for the 2009 season, the unfortunate victim of a sluggish economy and to a lesser degree, a recent rule change that he and others feel shackle the Buell (S&S Engine) combination with a marginal chance of winning races, or a championship.

Team owners George Smith and George Bryce have elected to sit out the 2009 s eason with the G-Squared/S&S Buell team.

“We knew at the end of the 2008 season that it was going to be tough to squeeze out a team because of the upcoming economic situation,” Rivas said.

Smith, also an executive with S&S, told CompetitionPlus.com that he’s taken a more active role with the company and in doing so, made his participation with the team for 2009 limited at best.

“I wasn’t planning on racing, even before the rulebook came out,” Smith said. “G-Squared wanted to field a team but sponsorship is tough to get in this depressed economy. Having the recent rule changes take place didn’t help a whole lot because the S&S bikes are at somewhat of a disadvantage.”
In addition to the recent four-valves per cylinder allowance for the Harley-Davidson, the NHRA has also granted the Suzuki teams a ten pound weight break. The Buell combination remains the same as last year.

Smith confirmed that he’s corresponded with the NHRA since releasing his official statement regarding the sanctioning body’s decision to legalize the four-valves per cylinder combination.

“I told them my concerns and they gave me an answer, and stated their opinion,” Smith said. “They’re not going to go back and reverse the rule. They stated that they have the right to make the decision as they have. I don’t deny the fact that it would have been better if we knew something in advance.”

Smith admits he harbors no ill feelings in sitting on the sidelines.

“Competition involves things that happen,” Smith added. “Sometimes they happen for your benefit, and sometimes they don’t. Just because they don’t work out your way doesn’t mean that you pack up your toys and=2 0go home. Am I endorsing the way the NHRA handled the rule change? No. Did I protest it? Yes. Is the dialogue in place? I think so. Is the NHRA still the premiere drag racing sanction? Yes. Are there other venues in place that we can race if we can’t afford the NHRA? Yes. These are challenging economic times.”

Sources have told CompetitionPlus.com that several leading Buell teams are looking at the feasibility of finding a home in the ADRL’s Pro Extreme Motorcycle division. This is a division currently dominated by foreign-based motorcycles.

For Rivas, he understands the decision made by Smith and Bryce and believes his options are limited considering his livelihood is centered around working on Harley-Davidson and V-twin motorcycles. Currently no one is able to buy a Harley-Davidson V-Rod engine and riding a Suzuki is out of the question. Of course, he’s available for a Buell.

Rivas is frustrated to find himself on the outside looking in with little promise for the immediate future.
“They [NHRA] gave everyone what they wanted except for S&S,” said Rivas. “Makes you wonder if someone just doesn’t want the S&S bikes out there.”