The STP Green Light Nationals was the first National event for bikes this year. Due to covid-19 there is no ACU or FIM drag racing championships in 2020. Santa Pod are running three races in a club series. There was a strong headwind on Saturday for qualifying, the wind eased on race day.
FunnyBike.
Stuart Crane has a new engine combination and had a soft set up for the event and ran 6.912 with a career personnel best of 198.03mph. But damaged his rear tyre and was out of the show. Phil Crossley was having a few problems and managed 7.491-175.08. Reigning ACU Comp Bike Champion Louis Davies has moved up to FunnyBike and ran 7.523 for third spot. Lorcan Parnell also had some issues and ran an out of session 6.929-195.54. Mark Smith was on the bump spot 7.943.
Smith ran a jaw dropping 7.173-179.97 personnel best ever figures to beat Crossley 7.382 in round one. Parnell was a no show (broken camshaft) leaving Davies a bye to the final.
Rain fell just before the start of the finals and the races will be completed at the Not The European Finals event in a few weeks.
Comp Bike.
With help from Warpspeed team Tony Clark was the number one qualifier 7.801-180.64. Phil Leamon was the next rider 8.590 just ahead of Chris Neary 8.666 and Ian Burns 8.690 who was having electrical issues. Paul Hambridge had a troubled qualifying sessions 10.192.
Clark had a bye run to the semis, but damaged a rocker, camshaft and valve and was out of the competition. Burns ran 8.595 to beat Neary 9.660. Hambridge slowed at mid-track against Leamon.
Both Leamon and Burns had byes to the final.
Super Street Bike.
Reigning ACU Super Street Bike Champion Steve Venables qualified number one 7.093-203.28. Stephen Mead was next 7.222-198.13. Mark Dainty 7.339, Mark Hope 7.415. Graham Dance with new light weight bodywork 7.644 and Dave Smith on the bump spot 7.768 sorting out a new turbo combination.
Venables wasted a 6.970-208.02 when he red lit against Smith stunning 7.326-196.43 in round one of the eliminations. Dance had a problem getting off the start line and Mead took the win light. Hope trailered Dainty. In the semis Smith had a bye and ran 7.459 at 199.68. Mead slowed at ¾ track and Hope ran his best of the w/end 7.355-196.21. Smith to race Hope in the final.
Fuel bikes ran in the exhibition class over the w/end. Reigning ACU Top Fuel Bike Champion Steve Woollatt put on a great show for the small crowd with arrow straight runs and a best of 6.490-195.41. Neil Midgley on his SuperTwin saved his best for the last run with a 6.541-180.64. Al Smith only ran on Saturday due to some engine damaged and ran a best of 6.919-151.63.
Report by Steven Moxley.