FIM-E Dragbike championship, Main Event Saturday, Santa Pod Raceway
Quite a delayed final qualifying day at the Main Event but the European dragbikers showed signs of stepping up the pace with some European record pacing runs in Super Street Bike and an exhibition world best on two wheels as the major headliners.
FIM-E Super Street Bike
So lets start off with the no slicks no bars brigade and the pack leaders have started to get phenomenally quick. After struggling yesterday Hungary’s Daniel Donat Lencses smacked out a 6.7664/225.76 in the first of today’s sessions and then pretty much repeated with 6.7656/225.52 from his D.M.E. Busa to get a hold on both ends of the FIM-E class records.
Jake Mechaell is second on the ladder with his 6.81 from yesterday whilst Steve Venables improved to a 6.8811 (and a 223.41 on a 7.0).
Mark Hope is in fourth with a new PB 7.0208/205.34 and Ross Morrison rounds out the top five with a 7.0641/201.46.
We were going to provide a list of shock non-qualifiers for the eight bike field but a decision to run the 12 bike field as an all run ladder will come as welcome relief and who would complain about an extra round of Super Street Bike?
FIM-E Top Fuel Bike
Fuel bike saw Rikard Gustafsson carry over his five eighty from yesterday as top qualifier which was a bit of a relief as a torched head on the Swede’s first shot this morning has provided a long day of repair to make eliminations. Rene van den Berg dropped in behind Gustafsson on the ladder with a 6.2377/228.18 from the Eurol backed Puma.
In third spot and lowering his own European best for a Funny Bike is Stuart Crane and the Warpspeed turbo GSX cranking out a 6.3312/211.09.
Neil Midgley carded a 6.6330 on a very early click off for fourth, Mark Smith fifth with his 6.805 from yesterday and in sixth Louis Davies ripped off a superb 6.8749/188.21 to demolish his own PB and get that all important six second ticket to the Top Fuel Bike Ball err eliminations ladder.
FIM-E Super Twin Bike
After yesterday’s blow up put Marcus Christiansen out of competition, things remained pretty much as was with only a trio of bikes carding tickets again Martijn de Haas improving to a 6.7913/208 to keep the low qualifying spot, Chris van Nimmen improving to a mid eight and Samu Kemppainen still fighting to keep the blower bike in a straight line.
FIM-E Pro Stock Bike
Struggles continued in Pro Stock Bike but at least all five entries have now made it down the track with Martin Newbury some way ahead of the rest with a 7.0912/187.43 from the Psycleworkz Suzuki.
FIM-E Junior Dragbike Cup
Junior Dragbike is as per yesterday with Hollie King number one although another session tomorrow morning will give Meg Talbot and Anouk Burgering a further opportunity to improve.
Exhibition
And that world record? How about a shocking 6.6197/206.24 from Hans-Henrik-Thomsen and the Silver Lightning team for both ends of the very best marks for two or four wheeled electric vehicles over a quarter of a mile.
Words and photos Ivan Sansom & Rose Hughes
Free web stream available via Santa Pod’s Youtube Channel here: https://www.youtube.com/c/SantaPodTV and Facebook page here: https://www.facebook.com/santapodraceway
Live ET slips available here:http://etslips.co.uk/Home.html
Qualifying sheets and eliminations ladders will be available here: https://santapodresults.com/2022/
