Gaige Herrera is the Pro Stock Motorcycle class’ No. 1 qualifier at Norwalk, Ohio, for the Summit Racing Equipment Nationals.

But he isn’t exactly the same Gaige Herrera who went on a tear at the NHRA Camping World Drag Racing Series’ first three bike appearances.

He still is the leader in the standings. He still has three victories. He still has won 14 of his 15 race-day passes. He still has led the field at every race. And so far, he still has set the low elapsed time at every event.

But Gaige Herrera no longer is perfect on the racetrack.

“It definitely took the wind out of my sails,” the Mission Foods Vance & Hines Suzuki racer said of his red-light disqualification in the final round against Steve Johnson two weeks ago at Bristol, Tennessee. He followed that with another foul start in Saturday’s specialty race that doubled as Q1 for the Norwalk race.

“I’ve got the baddest bike, and I’m expected to win,” Herrera said. But in a way, though, the slight setback took such unrealistic expectations from Herrera.

“That’s kind of expected. I knew there were going to be bumps [on the journey],” he said Saturday afternoon. “At Bristol, I told everybody I was feeling something’s going to happen, and it did.

“Before Bristol, I kind of changed my routine a little bit, and it ended up biting me,” he said. “So I went back to my old routine today. I’ve got to get back to my old routine that I had at the beginning of the season. That’s going to help me as a rider.”

In all, the humbling experience – for a racer who already has shown he’s humble – has been a bit of a blessing.

“It was kind of a weight off my shoulders,” Herrera said.

“I was mad at myself for going red,” he said, “but being able to bounce back” and claim the No. 1 starting position with a 6.785-second pass at 198.76 mph on the Summit Racing Equipment Motorsports Park quarter-mile was gratifying.

It didn’t hurt that he earned a first-round bye in Sunday’s eliminations for the 15-bike field.

Herrera nosed out reigning Pro Stock Motorcycle champion Matt Smith for the top spot. Smith – whose wife Angie Smith won the bonus race for cash and Countdown points by beating first Herrera, then Hector Arana Jr. – will start second with his 6.806-second run at a top speed of the meet (199.17 mph).

Arana was third on the grid at 6.814, 199.14.

Herrera also earned six more bonus points that he’s accumulating and will have applied to his total when the Countdown to the Championship starts.

The young racer’s body of work is impressive, despite what he would consider a blemish. Team co-owner Terry Vance said Saturday that even among the class’ luminaries – including Dave Schultz and John Myers – “I don’t think anybody’s had the whole package like him [Herrera]. He has the right size, the right mind – and he’s definitely good on the (Christmas) tree. This kid is really, really great, a humble kid, and I’m glad he’s representing our brand.”