With several new teams and different brands of motorcycles expected to join the NHRA PSM ranks in 2007, let’s take one more close look at how things ended up in 2006 before the recent pro-inline four cylinder rule change.
Round Wins Make W-L
1) Andrew Hines (Harley) 28-12
2) Antron Brown (Suzuki) 28-13
3) Angelle Sampey (Suzuki) 23-12
4) Chip Ellis (Buell) 18-13
5) Matt Smith (Buell) 18-13
6) Karen Stoffer (Suzuki) 16-14
7) Ryan Schnitz (Buell) 14-14
8) Tom Bradford (Buell) 11-15
9) Geno Scali (Suzuki) 11-15
10) Craig Treble (Suzuki) 10-13
2006 Final NHRA PSM Point Standings
Stats by Brand
Top 10 Finishers
1) Suzuki 5
2) Buell 4
3) Harley 1
Wins
1) Suzuki 7
2) Buell 5
3) Harley 3
Final Rounds
1) Suzuki 15
2) Buell 9
3) Harley 6
Low Qualifiers
1) Buell 9
2) Suzuki 4
3) Harley 2
Low ET
1) Buell 9
2) Suzuki 4
3) Harley 2
Top Speed
1) Suzuki 9
2) Buell 5
3) Harley 1
Mickey Thompson Six-Second Club Members
1) Suzuki 4
2) Buell 3
3) Harley 1
Six Second Runs
1) Buell 9
2) Suzuki 7
3) Harley 6
Although Harley ranks last in every category, keep in mind that in 2006 there were only two Harleys in the class, one of which ridden by season champion Andrew Hines.
The Buells seemed to have the advantage in qualifying as G-Squared riders Chip Ellis and Matt Smith combined to take the pole position seven times.
A new rule for 2007 which allows the inline four-cylinder bikes more displacement could make the brand rivalry even more intense in 2007 with the emergence of the late-model machines. Rob Muzzy’s team has already committed to building a Kawasaki ZX-14 and there are rumors of a Suzuki Hayabusa powered machine in the works.