Top Fuel Bike.
Neil Midgley was the first rider to record a five-second pass last year in the ACU Championship, which became the ET record of 5.858. With a spare motor and a new exhaust system, he will be the rider everyone will have to beat for the 2023 title. Al Smith became the first rider on the three cylinder powered bike in the world to run a five-second pass 5.936 at 230mph. The team have made some changes and there is still more to come from the bike. Rene Van Berg recorded the first 230mph and 240mph run in the ACU Championships and set the speed record of 239.79mph. His personal best is 246.37mph. He finished runner up in last years European FIM Championship. Multi-time ACU Champion Steve Woollatt finished runner up to Midgley and will only be racing in the ACU Championship in 2023. Making a return after a long absence is Jules Boag with a new fuel bike.
Funny Bike.
Lorcan Parnell heads the Funny Bike class finishing runner up in 2022 and running a personal best of 6.544. Dave Peters has finished in third place for the last five seasons and ran a personal best speed of 188.07mph, despite have damaged both his motors during the season. Roger Moore has been improving every season since joining the class and finished fourth in the championship with best figures of 7.555-175.76mph. Jordan Kenway will be moving from Comp Bike to Funny Bike in 2023. Dutch riders Maarten Zijlstra and Mike Olie add international flavour to the class.
Comp Bike.
There is a big entry for Comp Bike with ACU Champion Chris Neary having a tough job to start defending his title. There are six newcomers to the class. Former ACU and FIM Champion in Super Street Bike Garry Bowe, also Mark Dainty from Super Street. Anna Sasiak and Adam Burns with their new bikes. Last years 8.50 riders Jasmine Cordelle and Andrew Christophi. Paul Hambridge and Graham Dance will be ones to look out for.
Super Street Bike.
Multi-time ACU Champion Steve Venables will start the season on last years bike and will debut his new bike later in the season. Daniel Lencses the ACU ET and Speed record holder 6.596-226.67mph and reigning European FIM Super Street Bike Champion will be favourite for the event. Jake Mechaell FIM runner up and Alan Morrison Jr will be pushing both champions. Ross Morrison and Dave Smith will be hoping to run six-second passes in 2023, both ran 7.0secs in 2022. Margot Schmidt has had her bike upgraded by Lencses, hoping for a better season. Alan Morrison is a newcomer this year and will ride Steve Howe bike he bought over the winter, having competed in 8.50 in recent years.
Report by Steven Moxley