Australia’s quickest man on two wheels, multiple-time Australian Top Fuel Motorcycle champion and national record holder Chris Matheson, has his sights firmly set on the ANDRA finals in early April.
Matheson said, “We trail by a handful of points, however, if we keep up our consistent quick times, we will be in the running for our fourth Australian Championship. The points will sort the Championship out, we are focused on winning the meeting and keeping our 100 percent win record intact for the Adelaide International Raceway.”
Photo courtesy of www.dragphotos.com.au
Last weekend Matheson dominated, winning Round 5 of Top Bike at the Santo’s Super 3 Extreme, sponsored by BlackAdda in the rival 400 Thunder Championship at Willowbank, clocking some impressive numbers.
Matheson top qualified with a 6.33, collected bonus points for Lowest ET and Top MPH, clocking 212 mph (341 kph). Matheson took out the final beating rival Chris Porter with a 6.37 @ 203mph (327kph) to Porter’s 6.87 @ 170mph (273kph). Day two of the double round saw Matheson dominate again, setting Top Qualifier in Round 6, with a 6.52 at 211mph, Lowest ET and Top MPH again, clocking 211mph (339kph). Unfortunately, rain put an end to proceedings, as the heavens opened up, cancelling racing.
Photo courtesy of www.dragphotos.com.au
Matheson had again shown why he has won multiple Australian championships and set numerous records across Australia. Matheson said his team worked flawlessly all weekend, turning the bike around ready for the next run. Matheson said, “We had our issues, cracking the chassis and a faulty fuel shut off, giving us grief, but the guys soon sorted it.”
Matheson continued, “We had a strong weekend, winning all points and bonus points on offer, my crew really got the results, I have the easy job of pulling the trigger and enjoying the ride. We were a Team member down, so we all had to play double duties, especially Clint Ackland, who is my No.1 staging guy in the burnout procedure. Graeme Turner my Crew Chief really worked his magic with the data and helping Clint turn the Voodoo machine around between races.”
Despite the rain out for Round 6, the team managed to grab a lot of valuable points in the championship race to the finals, now within striking distance of leader Mark Drew, only 38 points behind. With two rounds remaining in the 400 Thunder Series, things are really heating up. Both the Sydney Nitro Champs and the Willowbank Winternationals offer over 100 points each, Matheson has a near flawless history at both tracks, whereby he holds track records at each 6.07 @ 237mph at Sydney Dragway and 6.04 @ 241.8mph at Willowbank Raceway.
Matheson went on to say, “The Willowbank Staff and Volunteers, as always, all need a pat on the back, they put on a great event and thanks to all the other Top Bike Teams who raced, it was a great show, with seven fire breathing monsters competing. Great effort to all the riders and their hard working team members.”
“Most of all a special thanks to Matthew Richards, Managing Director of BlackAdda, who got behind the Top Bike bracket, sponsoring the show and supporting the event.”
Photo courtesy of www.dragphotos.com.au
“We now travel half way across Australia to Adelaide International Raceway in South Australia, to compete in the Grand Final Round of the ANDRA Championship.” Matheson said “We trail Chris Porter, who leads the Championship on 174 points to our 157, we need to step up at Adelaide International Raceway and we will! The Adelaide International Raceway track distance is shortened from 1320 feet to 1000 feet, to give the Top Fuel Bikes enough distance to stop. The track really tests the Crew Chief’s to get the big bikes down the track without ‘smoking the rear tyre’, we have had some wild rides in the past and we expect the same this time. It will be fun, not many sleeps to go!”
The ANDRA finals are being held over the weekend of Saturday 9th and Sunday 10th April 2016 at Adelaide International Raceway.
Thank you once again to our Sponsors & Supporters:
Rocket Industries, GT Radiators & Machining, BlackAdda, WebCam, CRC Industries, PDS Graphics, Kitten Car Care Products, Worldwide Bearings, Hi-Side Leathers, Boninfante Friction Inc. with special thanks to Steve and Larry McBride.
