Rudd Reinforces Renaissance 
by: Jack Korpela, www.CycleDrag.com

Veteran motorcycle drag racer and owner of MPS, Dan Rudd, is the latest of a host of successful riders to prove there may be no match for new technology.  Rudd rode his state-of-the art Hayabusa-motored dragbike to a win in Pro ET at the AMA Dragbike Bikeweek Nationals in Valdosta, Ga.

       

Rudd has been bracket racing since 1975 aboard mostly the traditional Kawasaki KZ and Suzuki GS motorcycles.  In late 2005 Rudd felt the need for a change.  Rudd wanted to build new dragbike which utilized the modern and ever-popular Suzuki-Hayabusa power plant.

Rudd's technical and mechanical skills from running MPS made him a realistic candidate for the innovative custom build. Rudd opened MPS in 1980 and sold the very first air-shifter he ever made to Vance and Hines.

After a vigorous winter of wrenching and some early-spring testing the MPS Hayabusa was ready for battle.

"It really only took a couple months to come together," Rudd said. "We had one real frustrating month, ironing out a bunch of small stuff. The funny part is what was giving us the problems were the old components, not the new ones."

It didn't take long for Rudd to become competitive on his new ride as he scored victories on the SEMDRA tour and at his local NHRA Night of Fire.

"As far as learning to ride it compared to the old bikes, there really isn't any difference. It's the same deal as far as racing goes. The biggest overall difference is the Hayabusa is easier to deal with," Rudd said. "It's a push button start and I can ride it back."

Rudd says the Hayabusa's fuel injection makes it more consistent than his carburetor bikes of yesteryear.

"Wait until we switch to alcohol," Rudd said.  "It will be even more consistent."

Not only are the new motors more consistent, Rudd says they are easier to work on too.

"Suzuki really had their act together when they built the Hayabusa," Rudd said. "All of the clutch cover bolts are the same size.  All the covers have the same length bolts. It's just a better motor."

In early March Rudd rode his Hayabusa to its greatest feat yet by winning Sunday's Pro ET at the AMA Dragbike opener.

 

"Debbie Knebel gave me the gift I needed in the first round.  I left in second gear and she red-lighted," Rudd said. "Then I had a really close race with Rob Hunnicutt.  He cut a .028 to my .016 and he went dead-on on with a four to my dead-on with a three. The margin of victory was 16-thousandths.  I couldn't tell who was ahead at the finish line."

In the final Rudd ran 8.58 on an 8.59 dial and defeated Dennis Stewart, who fouled-out on the line.

"It was great.  It made me very happy," Rudd said.  "I want to thank everyone that provides parts to us."

Rudd hopes to participate in all of the AMA Dragbike and SEMDRA races in 2008.

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AMA Dragbike Bikeweek Nationals Coverage

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3/12/2008