From Left, Crew Chief Keith Perry, Chris Ulrich and reporter Mark Boyle prepare for a ride on an AMA superbike that, with two people, travels in excess of 150 miles per hour.

Topeka ? Editor’s note: Reporter Mark Boyle takes us behind the scenes of news stories in the area. This week, he made a visit to the Heartland Park racetrack in Topeka as riders prepared for the American Motorcycle Association Superbike races. Professional motorcycle rider Chris Ulrich and team roadracingworld.com convinced Mark to ride along for a couple of laps in what turned out to be a truly eye-opening experience.

Disclaimer: No members of the media were harmed in the making of this story.

Media Day for the AMA Superbike races at Heartland Park racetrack in Topeka had a notable goal: Allow members of the media to write their stories based on race access that is typically granted to few others.

The problem: Our access was close enough it physically took my breath away and made this experience nearly impossible to put into words.

“Access” in this case was the back seat of a motorcycle hurtling some 150 mph down the track.

“I know what you signed up for, and that’s why I didn’t,” said Steve Johnson, chairman of Heartland Park racetrack. “From what I understand, not too many people fall off and if you do, you (should) slide, don’t start tumbling. That’s a bad thing.”

Several years ago Chris Ulrich and company added a second seat, foot pegs and handle to the back of a race motorcycle so they could treat members of the media to rides on the back.

Earlier this year, the bike was clocked in Daytona, Fla., at 195 miles per hour with one rider. That same bike traveled nearly 150 miles per hour the day I took a ride.

“This is a Suzuki GSXR1000 and it’s basically the same bike we race with; all we did was add a special gas tank and a special seat,” said Ulrich, AMA superbike rider.

“We’re just going to throw you on the back and take a few hot laps,” Ulrich said, laughing. That’s when the fear began to set in for us media members.

After being fit into a titanium-plated leather race suit, helmet, gloves and boots, we were introduced to Ulrich and the motorcycle.

Nine members of the media suited up to take a ride and, simply put, none of us had any idea of the thrill and sheer terror we were about to experience.

“Try to relax. I think that’s the key to everyone enjoying this thing, is to relax,” said Keith Perry, the team’s crew chief. “Trust your driver. He’s done three or four hundred of these, and we haven’t lost a guy yet. You start losing reporters off the back and your program’s done.”

Tearing down straightaways at well more than 150 miles per hour, turning the bike sharply enough to drop a knee on the ground, and acceleration intense enough to thrust the bike onto just one tire was a new experience for us, but it’s all in a day’s work for these riders.

“The biggest thing about a motorcycle like this is that makes 190 horsepower and it weighs 375 pounds so you have a great power-to-weight ratio,” Ulrich said. “You’re going to take off fast and slow down fast and on top of that we’re going to get some good lean angles through the turns.”

Following the ride, which included two laps around the Heartland Park track, speeds in excess of 150 miles per hour and sweaty hands when finished, a newfound respect came out of the experience.

Many sports fans I have spoken with admit to not following motorsports, and some lack any appreciation at all. I challenge those fans to rethink their viewpoint.

My eyes were opened by this experience at Heartland Park racetrack in Topeka.

As a longtime sports fan, I have a newfound envy for the skills these riders possess. Watch a similar race in person and it may very well change your perspective about motorsports as well.