Event No. 10 / Lucas Oil NHRA Nationals / August, 11 - 14 / Brainerd, Minnesota

Mike Berry continued the ugly streak his Pro Stock Motorcycle team has fallen into during the last three races on the NHRA schedule, this time suffering a fate worse than losing, a DNQ.

At the Lucas Oil NHRA Nationals in Brained, Minnesota, the MB Precision Machining Suzuki was qualified in the 16 Pro Stock Motorcycle field throughout Friday qualifying, but just barely.

"We ran a pair of 7.27 runs on Friday. The first was good, but the second one needed to be much better," said Berry. "In the Friday night session the Harley's were in the 7.0 range breaking both the track ET and MPH records. We needed pick up a tenth just to stay where we were on the ladder."

 In the two Saturday qualifying sessions, the MB Precision Machining Suzuki lost some ground in the early session, then made a good pass in not-so-good conditions to finish in the 17th spot.

"I had a 'rider error' problem in the Saturday morning session that cost us the run. I got away from my normal routine, and because of that, I missed a basic and important part of preparing for the pass," said Berry. "

In the final of four qualifying attempts, the MB Precision Machining Suzuki cranked out a 13th best-of-session 7.204/180.96 pass that temporarily put the bike in the show, until a 7.172 / 189.68 run from Tom Bradford's Hal's HD V-Twin Buell bumped the Berry Suzuki back out of the program.

"We finally make a pretty decent pass from a motor that I have spent tons of time doing R&D on, and a guy making his fourth ever pass at an NHRA event puts us out," said Berry. "That really tells the story of what is going on in NHRA Pro Stock Motorcycle in 2005

It has been real frustrating this season with the rules the way they are. As an independent rider and engine builder, I don't know if it makes sense for me to finish out the season when the performance gap has gotten so wide.

I have a commitment to run Memphis, then a meeting with NHRA to discuss rules and ideas right before Indy. What happens at those two races will help us decide how we will finish out the season.