July 20 - The last early day. The alarm goes off at 2:30am, but we're already awake. The Sprinter is preloaded and we are completely ready, so we hop in and go. No stop for coffee today. The gate opens at 3am on the dot and we are through at about 3:02am. Today we drive to the starting line area and find the spot near the road that we have been assigned. It's a good location—level and big enough for all that we have going on. Paul scouts the location and gets the pit set up. We want to have the Hypermotards right out front for everyone to see and appreciate.

We set up the pits with flags and banners and lights so that the spectators coming by on their way in will be able to see all the Ducati red. In addition to the two race Hypermotards we have a couple of demo Hypers so people can see that we're racing basically stock motorcycles. Greg and Alexander arrive later—taking the opportunity to get a few more minutes of sleep before the race.

The cars will take off the line first, class by class. The motorcycles will go after them, and last of all will be the big trucks. Shortly after the first car starts we hear the siren of the safety truck and we know that there has been an incident.

The past two days have been hot and dry and the race course conditions have changed dramatically since our last practice. Today it is dry, dusty and very slippery. During the next several hours we hear of many race vehicles going off the course. There are at least two very bad crashes with three drivers air lifted to emergency care. Each time this happens, we begin to worry a little more about what we're asking Greg and Alexander to do.

As the motorcycles proceed to the starting line there are more and more delays for riders off the road. The ambulance is called up then returns with downed riders several times. Luckily, none of the motorcycle riders are badly injured. By the end of the event we will hear that 22 participants of the Pike's Peak International Hill Climb of 2008 did not finish due to incidents.

The 1200cc class with the Hypermotards is the last motorcycle class to take off. Once the 750cc class leaves, the Hypers, Buells, BMWs, and KTMs move up to the starting line. As the fastest qualifier, Greg has his pick of position but he had not yet announced which position he favors. The other riders get to choose only after he states his choice. We make sure that both our Hypermotard riders have umbrella girls. It is getting late in the afternoon and the temperature on the line has climbed into the 90's. The engines are being warmed up and the distinctive throaty sound of the Hypers is unmistakable in the sound of all the other bikes.

The riders line up in the same order as before and this time they do take off in a great rumble. I jump into the course and see Glen Cox leading the pack around the corner with Greg in hot pursuit, then they disappear.

The wait seems like forever. Finally we hear over the radio some of the results. Greg's brother Gary Trachy has won the 450 class, Davey Durelle the 750 class. I hear the announcer giving the 2nd, 3rd and 4th positions for the 1200 class and Alexander is 4th! I don’t hear Greg's name. Then, someone comes by and says Greg won! The results are posted at the starting line area and I walk back up to double check and find it there in black and white. The Ducati Hypermotard won! We won!

Thank you to Greg Trachy, Alexander Smith and Ducati North America. This has been the story of how the Hypermotard came to Pikes Peak and won in 2008. But the Hyper's story is far from over.