The opening round of the 2015 ACU Dragbike Championships didn’t get off to a good start. Rain wash out the first day of qualifying, the second day of qualifying just got completed before the curfew in the dark.
Top Fuel Bike.
Reigning Champion Steve Woollatt led the field with an early click off the throttle 7.726-118mph. Team found damage on number two piston and they were out of competition. Newcomer to the Top Fuel Bike class for 2015 Nick Milburn also suffered engine problem after qualifying 8.710-156mph. Former Champion Rene Van Den Berg had some handling issues during qualifying but went on to win the event 6.627-189.70mph.
Funnybike.
With the lost of the first day of qualifying to rain, some of the teams suffered and didn’t qualify. Reigning Champion Gary Jones ran a superb 7.212-169.17mph to the number one qualifying spot, but damaged the cylinder head and was out of the show. Eric Richard ran a personal best of 7.386 at 179.97mph. Bob Brooks did a fantastic riding job by leaning way over to stop the bike from crossing the centre line and kept the throttle open to record a time of 7.417-183.55mph.
Dave Peters was second alternate and came in for Gary Jones and faced Brooks in the final after Brooks ran 7.302-186.59mph (top speed of the meet) in the semi-final. Peters got out the gate first and took the win light 7.976-160mph.
Comp Bike.
With the champion Allan Davies moving up to Funnybike there were a lot of new faces in the Comp Bike class. Paul Hambridge recorded his first ever number one qualifier in the ACU Championship with a 7.920-178.45mph. Eddy Smiley the reigning 8.50bike Champion has moved up to Comp Bike and ran a personal best of 8.103 at 171.75mph. Hambridge had a problem staging in the semi-final leaving Sean Mills another newcomer to the class reach his first ACU final against Smiley. Smiley took the win light with his first seven-second pass 7.981 over Mills who was trying to keep his bike in his lane and slowed to 12.495.
Super Street Bike.
Reigning Super Street Bike Champion Steve Venables led the field in qualifying with 7.343. Chris Reed sorted out his wiring problem over the winter and took out some boost to record 7.439. 2014 Pro Stock Bike Champion and 9.50Bike Champion Alex Hope is riding the ex Steve Venables bike and qualified sixth 7.725. Former champion Richard Stubbins debut his new bike and ran 7.810.
In the second round of the eliminations Steve Venables ran under the ACU et record of 7.142 with a time of 7.138. Hope put a huge holeshot over Pete Field (rt092 to 278) and took the win light with 7.527 to Field’s losing 7.349. Field ran a top speed of 202.43mph. Venables engine blew during the burnout leaving Richard Hann a bye to the final. Garry Bowe beat Alex Hope in the other semi-final. Both riders ran their best runs of the w/end in the final with Bowe running a personal best of 7.165 to take the win against Hann who 7.364.
Report by Steven Moxley.