The start of the 2015 six round series of the drag racing ACU Championships kicks off at Santa Pod Raceway over the Easter weekend on April 3rd-5th.
Top Fuel Bike.
Multi-time ACU Top Fuel Bike Champion Steve Woollatt will start his defence of his title and hoping to continue his end of season form were he ran close to his personal best with an et 6.268. Rene Van Den Berg has rebuilt his motor after damaging a conrod at the end of last season. Newcomer to the ACU Championship in Top Fuel Bike Nick Milburn will make his debut after getting his licence at last years National Finals.
Funnybike.
There is a good entry of 14 Funnybikes for the opening round of the championship. Gary Jones will have the challenge of former champion Stuart Crane and Greek rider Fillippos Papafilippou who ran 6.549 at 206mph in the European FIM Championship last year. Dave Peters has been a top three finisher in the last three years. 2014 ACU Comp Bike Champion Allan Davies will be competing in Funnybike this year as will Comp Bike runner up Phil Crossley who is building a new bike and will debut it later in the season.
Comp Bike.
With both the champion and runner up moving to Funnybike, this season will see some newcomers come into the class. 8.50 Bike Champion Eddy Smiley and three times 8.50 Bike Champion Mick Winyard. Mark Hope and Sean Mills will also make their debuts. Last years speed king Kevin Osman and Tony Clark will be challenging for the title.
Pro Stock Bike.
Reigning Champion Alex Hope won’t be defending his title instead he will compete in Super Street Bike. Former Champions Len Paget who has built a new motor after damaging a motor at the National Finals and Mark Smith who has also a new motor built by Warpspeed Racing. Ray Debben will have his 1500cc motor for this meeting and will have a bigger motor later in the season.
Super Street Bike.
Steve Venables the reigning ACU and FIM Champion has sold his old bike (blue) to Alex Hope. Former champion Richard Stubbins will debut his new bike. Speed Record Holder Garry Bowe and Pete Field will be pushing Venables as will Richard Hann who ran 7.303-198mph. Jemma Venables will have the same spec for her bike like her father’s bike and is hoping to improve on 7.459-195mph.
Report by Steven Moxley.