Alex Gobert of the Bruce Transportation Group is the latest Australian to come America to race. The youngest of the three racing Gobert brothers, Alex will race his first full season in the US in 2002 in the 600 Supersport and Formula Xtreme classes.

Alex rode a Honda in the Austrailian Formula Xtreme and Production Superbike classes Down Under, but this isn't his first time to ride in the US. He rode two races -- at Road Atlanta and Laguna -- in the Aprilia Cup Challenge in 1999.

"Just the whole deal is so much bigger than Australia. We don't have the semi-factory and factory teams and even the riders over here seem more experienced. It's good to be over here and learning a lot," Alex said.

The eighteen year old Gobert says Daytona can be a shock for a first time rider. "It's so much different to any place I've ridden before. I've never even ridden on an oval track. Going up on the banking for the first time you have to grit your teeth and hold it open."

By Tuesday, his lap times dropped from 1:58.4 to the low1:57s. "I hope to drop in the 56es today and keep improving tomorrow," Alex said.