At the start of the 600 supersport race he quickly moved into the lead on lap two. Riding at a very comfortable pace he led until the white flag lap. when he was passed. Cranking up the pace, he made a couple of attempts to retake the lead to no avail. There was little consolation that he had set the fastest lap of the race.

Sunday morning was a repeat of Saturday with rain still falling, and as Ricky headed out for qualifying the rain was coming down even harder. Halfway through the session Ricky tried to get by a rider to set a fast lap when his Rocky Mountain Kawasaki snapped sideways into a violent high side. He was okay, but the bike did not fare so well. With a puncture in the gas tank his weekend was over. Dejected and muddy, Ricky headed home to lick his wounds. The next day he found out he had set the fastest time for the session, putting him on the pole for Race of the Rockies.

Ricky always has had good luck at this facility and this weekend was no different. Practice times showed Ricky at the top. Saturday's supersport race saw Ricky take a commanding lead from the start and cruise to a comfortable win by three seconds.

Sunday had superbike and Race of the Rockies on tap. At the start of the superbike race Ricky got a nice start and got through turn one in third place. By the midway point Ricky had moved into second and was challenging for the lead. Not finding a way past the leader, he had to settle for a second place finish. As Race of the Rockies was called to the starting line, Ricky was determined to nail the hole shot and he got it right. Leading the pack into turn one, he demonstrated his knowledge of P.P.I..R. by gaping the field. Lap after lap the challenges were mounting. Ricky did a great job of fending off the attacks until the last lap when a rider got by two turns from the checkered flag. With not enough time to mount a charge, Ricky was disappointed with his second place finish.

Ricky was aboard his familiar Rocky Mountain Kawasaki ZX6R and felt confident about the weekend. The first race, 600 Supersport, was called to grid. The class champion had the honors of a front row start and took advantage of it by getting to turn one in second. After stalking the leader for three laps, Ricky made the pass for the lead. He held it to the checkered flag for the first win of the season.

Race two was 600 Superbike. A front row start saw Ricky into turn one in second place. Chasing the leader, Ricky was looking for an advantage but could not find a way past and brought it home in second place.

Last race of the day was Race of the Rockies. With honors of pole position, Ricky saw the new competition as he was shuffled into fifth on the start. As things settled down, Ricky started to move forward. By the halfway flags he was in second place and not able to make any time on the leader. On the white flag lap, Ricky was passed and could not retaliate by the checkered and took the last step on the podium for a third place finish.

As things settled down, Ricky got into a battle with a couple of riders all the way to the first pit stop. With Marvin Rosencrans orchestrating the refueling, Ricky was out in eighteen seconds. At this point, Ricky had climbed into the top twenty from his thirty-first qualifying position. As the second fuel stop was coming up Ricky was in need of a new Dunlop. Coming in to his pit, a TV crew was blocking his entry and he overshot the mark causing him to lose valuable time. The race was drama-free to this point, but on his out lap with a full load of fuel and a new tire he was rammed by another rider. Ricky was determined not to go down and fought it to the edge of the track before regaining control. The laps were winding down and Ricky was running in fifteenth place with a rider in sight. Putting his head down Ricky was determined to climb one more position. On the last lap Ricky drafted past Santiago Villa coming out of the chicane for the spot and a fourteenth place finish.

With this year's finish, Ricky is within 4 miles of breaking the record for a rider completing the most laps in the Daytona 200. Ricky has his sights set on breaking the record next year and hopes everyone will be there to help celebrate this milestone.

Saturday’s program had the 600 Supersport up after the lunch break. Ricky nailed the start and began to gap the field when a red flag stopped the race. On the restart he was not so lucky. On the first lap he was running in third; making a move on the brakes put him into second. Next lap he took the lead only to lose the lead three turns later. Making a bold move through the chicane put him back into the lead. This dog fight would go on for the next two laps until Ricky made a pass stick and pulled away from the competition. Winning the race, the championship and the Kawasaki contingency made for a great day.

Sunday brought variable weather conditions with the possibility of rain. The 600 Superbike race was first on the agenda. On a dry track, a good start saw Ricky put it into second on the first lap. Hounding the leader he could not make any time. Lap by lap he was losing touch and had to settle for second. With the second place finish he also took second in the championship. Last round of the Race of the Rockies was up. Another good start had Ricky in second place playing follow the leader. Knowing a good finish would clinch the championship, Ricky put it on cruise to a second place. With that finish he locked up the Race of the Rockies championship to cap off another great year.

Without the help and support from Rocky Mountain Kawasaki, Dunlop, Bel-Ray, EBC, Dainese, Aria, Hindle, GPR, Woodcraft, Dynojet, Lockhart, Corsa Components,Western Stone, The Walnut Room, AST, Fitz Graphix, Dr Hannigan and Marvin Rosencrans this winning season would not be possible.

This being a Kawasaki contingency race, Ricky was intent on doing well. Saturday had 600 supersport on the schedule. Starting on the front row he shot into the lead. Winning was all Ricky had on his mind, and with the financial motivation he kept pushing hard. By the halfway point Ricky had pressure from behind. Staying focused and mistake free Ricky took the win and the cash.

Sunday’s weather and crowds were great again. The start of 600 superbike saw Ricky get to turn one in second place. Running right behind the leader, Ricky was riding aggressive trying to find a way around. Lap after lap Ricky could not get close enough to make a pass. On the white flag lap, Ricky was as close as he had been. Still trying to make a pass, he pushed a little too hard and low sided in turn two. While his Dainese suit and Arai helmet kept him safe, they could not contain his disappointment.

Race of the Rockies was next on the schedule. Another front row start had Ricky into turn one in third place. Quickly moving into second and chasing the leader, Ricky was not making any time. Remembering the earlier race, he got into his rhythm and continued to hound the leader. Waiting for the leader to make a mistake and capitalize on was not happening. Just past the cross flags the leaders hand went up as Ricky went past to take the lead. Keeping his head down and trying to stay mistake free he was heading to his second win of the weekend. At the checkered flag, Ricky had another victory in hand.

At the start of the 600 supersport race he was off the line well and dropped into second. Lap after lap he was looking for a spot to make the pass but the opportunity did not present itself. One lap past the halfway flag, Ricky decided it was time to get the job done and made an out braking move going into turn one. After the pass he started to put some distance on second for a comfortable win.

The 600 superbike class gridded Sunday morning for the first race of the day. Ricky was on the front row and nailed the holeshot. Through turn one he was side by side with a rider to his inside. Ricky started to drop down as the other rider backed out of it. From there he gapped the field by a nice margin for his second win of the weekend.

Last race of the day was Race of the Rockies. With another great start, Ricky lead the field into turn one and continued to pull away. By the checkered flag, Ricky had the entire length of the front straight over second place.

With three wins over the weekend, Ricky was feeling much better, and leaving Pueblo with the points lead in all three classes was just icing on the cake.

Saturday's 600 supersport race saw Ricky get an unusually bad start. Having to make up lost ground working his way through the pack, the lead rider pulled away. By lap five he had moved into second but was not able to make up any ground on first place. Settling for second was not where Ricky wanted to be, but trying to adapt to last year's bike was also frustrating.

Sunday brought the 600 superbike race to the grid before lunch. With another poor start Ricky was riding hard trying to get to the front. With a couple of bold moves, Ricky made it into second place, but once again the leader was gone.

Race of the Rockies was next. Another slow start saw Ricky battling riders for position. A bar-to-bar fight over second place allowed the rider from behind to catch up and make a pass down the long straight relegating Ricky to third. Just then a red flag came out eliminating any chance to retake second place.

Keeping it on the podium all weekend was good, but without any wins, Ricky was not happy and would be looking forward to the next race where he would be back on the '09 Kawasaki ZX6.

With Kawasaki contingency on the line Ricky was looking forward to a good weekend. First race on Saturday was 600 supersport. With a good launch he led the pack into turn one. Putting the hammer down, Ricky led every lap to take his first win of the weekend.

Sunday’s first race was 600 supersport. Tire issues came into play and Ricky was losing ground on the leader after the start. His pace continued to slow, and he was passed again relegating him to third at the flag. On the start of 600 superbike, Ricky was in second through turn one. Stalking the leader he kept the pressure on. Looking for the perfect opportunity to pass, the leader’s hand went up indicating a problem. Ricky was quick to take advantage and move into the lead. Ricky stayed at the front for his second win of the weekend. Next up was Race of the Rockies. With a great holeshot he lead into turn one. Charging hard Ricky lead every lap to the checkered flag with a huge margin for his third win of the weekend.

Monday’s program had 600 superbike up first. On the start Ricky moved into second place. Playing follow the leader, Ricky could not get past the leader and ended up second at the flag. The last race of the day was Race of the Rockies. At the start Ricky got to turn one side-by-side with another rider. As both riders tried to get into the lead Ricky got the short end of the deal and dropped to second. Unable to match the pace, Ricky stayed in second to the flag.

Saturday was sunny and warm. Tire choice seemed to be a question with so few laps on the new pavement. Ricky went with a soft compound Dunlop. When the light went green for the start of 600 supersport his start was not the best. On lap one Ricky was in third chasing second place. By the halfway flag he realized he had made a poor tire choice and started to fade. National rider Jason Disalvo put a pass on Ricky, pushing him back to fourth where he would finish.

Sunday’s weather was cool and wet, presenting new tire options. Ricky chose full Dunlop wets. At the start of 600 superbike Ricky was in second. Two laps into it Matt Lynn went down while leading. Two laps later Kane Lasky put a pass on Ricky to take the lead. Ricky stayed on him pushing and showing a wheel at every opportunity. One lap later Kane went down handing Ricky the lead and the win.

Race of the Rockies was next and with a drying track, tires were again the question. Ricky went with Dunlop slicks. At the start Ricky was in second through turn one. By turn ten Ricky moved into the lead. Coming into the last turn, he found himself in too hot and tucked the front end. His Arai helmet and Dainese leathers protected him from harm but not disappointment.

On Sunday the 600 superbike race was up before lunch. Another front row start saw Ricky get to turn one first. The battle was on. As both riders pulled away from the rest of the pack, Lynn would take the lead away from Ricky. As he pursued, Lynn kicked a cone up in front of Ricky at ninety miles an hour through turn ten. As he slowed and tried to avoid it he was gapped by Matt. At the flag Ricky was happy to take second and not a soil sample.

The Race of the Rockies was next. Another front row start had Ricky powering to turn one in the lead As he focused on consistent laps, Ricky held the lead for all fourteen laps to take another victory!

Ricky was very optimistic about this year’s round. With a new and improved ’09 Kawasaki ZX6R and a rare test day at Pikes Peak International Raceway the equipment was ready. Monica at RFA Training was driving Ricky hard to reach his peak physical condition. His attitude was also geared toward a strong finish.

Once on the track the ZX6R was working very well with a little handling issue. Unfortunately a rock to the radiator cut the first practice session short. The next session under the lights had Ricky adapting well, cutting a second off his lap times.

Qualifying was the next session on day two and Ricky found another second, but missed the first wave by a few hundreths of a second.

A beautiful evening greeted everyone for the first Daytona 200 under the lights. With more new rules, the race would be a rolling start with two safety cars. Unfortunately the gap was thirty seconds to the second group, much bigger than a standing start. Ricky had his work cut out for himself and started to lay down fast consistent laps. Moving through the field his first stop for fuel went smoothly. Back on track he had already moved up twenty spots. As his second fuel stop was just a few laps away, the safety car entered the track. It looked like the timing would be perfect for the second stop. Then a red flag changed everything. With the riders brought back into the pits, new rule forbid them from working on the bike. When the safety car led the riders back out for a restart, Ricky would have to reenter the pits for fuel and a new Dunlop costing him valuable time. Once back on track he found the safety car was back out. The confusion of the safety car for the next eight laps cost Ricky the opportunity to make up any more positions. As the checkered flag was shown, thirtieth was his finishing position.

A big thanks to the team as this effort takes more than one: Marvin Rosencrans, Pete and Lucy Brandauer, Pete Hockingstad, Mark Hoyt, Jon Glaefke, Chris Koster, John Burr, Paul Frysig and Jim Clark.