Tricky conditions for the opening day of qualifying at the FIM-E Main Event
Most of the usual suspects lead the way after a tricky opening qualifying day at the FIM-E Dragbike Championship Round One, The Main Event, held at Santa Pod Raceway. With a late start thanks to some early morning rain (holding a drag racing event is the guaranteed way to break a two-month long drought in the United Kingdom) accompanied by a strong breeze and rapidly cooling conditions for the second session of the day.
Reigning champion Rikard Gustafsson seems to have got a very quick handle on a revised fuel system for 2025 to lead the FIM-E Top Fuel Bike pack with a first session 5.7971/243.93 from the Indian backed RG Engineering Puma bullet accompanied by comparatively lazy early numbers. A second session 5.8747/236.54 was none too shabby either.
Like Gustafsson, Marcus Christiansen is some way ahead of the rest in FIM-E Super Twin Bike with the continuing development of the set up changes from last season augmented over the winter by a new look exhaust system. An excellent 6.1617/217.20 was accompanied by a very nice 3.9616 eighth mile clocking suggesting there is still more to come from the Danish championship team
It has proved to be a challenge to get to grips with the track prep and the head and cross winds for the FIM-E Super Street Bike field and the sixteen bike bump spot has some way to go yet, but Jake Mechaell sits on the provisional pole with a 6.7582/216.91. Should conditions improve tomorrow things should get a bit more rapid before the end of the day.
In what proved to be his only successful launch, Bertrand Maurice took the early lead in FIM-E Pro Stock Bike qualifying with a 7.2800 from the French Light Speed Suzuki. Again this is a class with room for improvement tomorrow.
While the FIM-E Championship fields have a familiar look to the pole sitters, Maggie Smallman is making her debut in the FIM-E Junior Dragbike Cup ranks here at the Main Event and is currently sitting pretty with a +0.0506s on an 8.20 dial-in to lead the field.
Text and photos: Ivan Sansom & Rose Hughes
