Six riders represent Norwegian National Drag Bike Team 2015
The Norwegian National Drag Bike Team was founded in 2013. In co-operation with the Norwegian Motorsport Federation it was a new way to help Norwegian drag racers with sponsorship, marketing and all issues they encountered when running their own team. In its third year six riders in three different classes will represent the Norwegian National Drag Bike Team and with outstanding performance they will try to attract attention to Norwegian drag racing.
“We are proud to present the Norwegian National Drag Bike Team 2015!”, Lin Granlund starts her presentation. “The riders have been qualified by their results in the FIM and Nordic Championship last year. Six riders have been in the top of their classes, and they are now riders in the Norwegian National Drag Bike Team 2015. In Top Fuel Bike Jan Sturla Hegre, in Super Twin Svein Olav Rolfstad, Hans Olav Olstad, Trond Jostein Høiberget and Ronny Aasen. New to the team is Super Street Bike rider Dag Wagenius. Our riders will compete in the EDRS Pro Nordic Motorcycle Championship, National Championship and FIM European Championship. They are looking forward to compete at the tracks in Sweden, Finland, the United Kingdom, Germany and of course Norway, in classes that are among the most popular of the sport. We also hope some of the riders will go to the States this season!”
The first Norwegian National Drag Bike Team (2013)
There were two main reason to start a national drag bike team in 2013. To attract more attention to the sport of drag racing and, in co-operation with the Norwegian Motorsport Federation, to help Norwegian drag racers with sponsorship, marketing and all other things they have to deal with when running their own team. “By making this a national team, we want to attract more attention to our fantastic sport and to show companies the potential of the sport, which hopefully will generate new sponsors. Our riders compete in front of big crowds and are good ambassadors for Norway and Norwegian sports. Companies and commercial partners can have their names on bikes and team buses and we can offer great days at Gardermoen Raceway for our sponsors. We hope more counties will focus on national teams. We are more than ready for a real competition at team level”, Lin Granlund says. The Norwegian National Drag Bike Team will be led by Kåre Ravnsborg, joined by Lin Granlund and Egil Johnsrud.
Jan Sturla Hegre (born 1987) started his career in 2003 and was Norway’s first junior drag bike rider. In 2015 Jan Sturla will drive the Top Fuel Bike owned and built by Uggerud Bros. This bike is built over the last six years and one of a kind in Europe. In addition he will ride his own Super Twin Bike in selected races. Jan Sturla is Europe’s youngest rider in Super Twin and Top Fuel. In 2015 he will compete in the EDRS Pro Nordic Motorcycle Championship and maybe also FIM Championship and in the USA. His goals for 2015: brake the 400 km/h barrier in Top Fuel Bike and win the Norwegian Championship and EDRS Pro Nordic Championship.
Svein Olav Rolfstad started his career in 1993 and is in the UEM/FIM series since 2000. With 6.409 sec. Svein Olav is the European ET record holder. In 2015 Svein Olav will compete in the EDRS Pro Nordic Motorcycle Championship and the Norwegian Championship. If things go as planned, the team will go back (they were there already twice) to the USA. This will be the second season with their own designed and home-built engine.
Hans Olav Olstad was the first Norwegian to win a UEM race in Super Twin, is multiple Norwegian champion and reigning EDRS Pro Nordic MC champion in Super Twin. Goals for 2015: new personal bests and fighting in the top of the EDRS Pro Nordic Motorcycle Championship and win the Norwegian Championship.
Trond Jostein Høiberget made his debut in 2008 and is in the top of the Super Twin class since he started in 2009. He won the Nordic and Norwegian championship in his career. Trond will start with a new engine (team Svein Olav Rolfstad) this season and will compete in the EDRS Pro Nordic Motorcycle Championship and the Norwegian Championship. After the European season, the team also wants to compete in the USA. Goals for 2015: top 3 in EDRS Pro Nordic and Norwegian Championship and new personal bests.
Ronny Aasen started drag racing in 1998. Won the UEM/FIM European Super Twin Championship already three times, 2005, 2006 and 2013. Ronny drives for the Dutch Zodiac team run by Ton and Vincent Pels. Goals for 2015: win the FIM European Championship and new European record speed and ET!
Dag Wagenius is a new member of the Norwegian National Drag Bike Team. Dag started drag racing in 2000 and was third in the 2014 EDRS Pro Nordic Motorcycle Championship in Super Street Bike. His goals for 2015: win the EDRS Pro Nordic Super Street Bike Championship and new European record.
