Following a record-shattering and tremendously successful weekend for his team at the AMA Dragbike Summer Nationals from Martin, Mich., June 13-14, Brock’s Performance Products owner, Brock Davidson is eagerly anticipating the upcoming AMA Dragbike Pingel Thunder Nationals from Indianapolis, Ind., Aug 1-2.
“I’m excited,” Davidson said. “The surface in Indy can hold as much power as any track we’re on the entire year.”
Given what happened at the last event, Davidson has plenty of reasons to be excited.
In Martin, team rider Keith Thompson achieved perhaps the grandest milestone of his drag racing career by becoming the first Real Street rider to run in the sevens. Thompson’s record-setting blast stopped the clocks at 7.98 at 172 mph.
“That was awesome. The bikes and the products just keep getting better, and people are getting better at tuning them” said Davidson, who became the first man to put a street-legal motorcycle in the sevens in 2000. “What’s truly amazing is that he did it on a DOT approved Z-rated tire, not a Mickey Thompson or a cheater slick. It was a Michelin street tire, the same as anyone could go and buy at their local bike shop.”
Recording a sub-eight second run was one of Thompson and Davison’s goals before the season started. Because Thompson is one of the larger riders in the category, Davidson replaced several of Thompson’s components with the much-lighter Brock’s Performance Products.
“Keith is one of the best riders out there, but he’s not super small,” Davidson said. “We put on the BST carbon fiber wheels, our Ti-winder exhaust, which is not only lighter, but also provides more ground clearance, and our Dragshock to make sure the power he made got to the drag strip.”
On top of Thompson’s momentous Real Street accomplishment, Team Brock’s Performance Products took over the top three spots in the highly-competitive Super Sport point standings. Veteran Rickey Gadson leads the class, followed by No. 2 Farlie Hall and No. 3 Joey Gladstone.
Each rider achieved a noteworthy accomplishment in Martin. Gadson finished runner-up in his debut performance on his Brock’s Exhaust-equipped Kawasaki ZX-14. Farlie Hall, also aboard a ZX-14, established a new Super Sport record with an elapsed-time of 8.99.
“For Gadson and Hall to come out and show that the bigger bikes can get it done against the lighter GSXR 1000s, I honestly feel like the rules are closer than they have ever been,” Davidson said. “It’s coming down to rider skill, because the bikes are so close.”
Joey Gladstone enjoyed one of the most successful weekends of his young drag racing career by earring event victories in both Super Sport and Street ET on his GSXR 1000.
“Gladstone is on fire. He’s fine-tuning his combination,” Davidson said. “We invited him to my shop once he joined the Brock’s Performance Team to make sure his bike was set-up the way we like it. From the moment he left our facility he has gotten better.”
Davidson also praised Eric and Rudy Sanzotera for their runner-up finish in the Super Street category.
“They have learned the turbo game very quickly. For them to be that successful that quickly shows the type of dedication they have to the sport because it’s a lot of work,” Davidson said.
On top of all the optimism surrounding his team, another reason Davidson is looking forward to Indy is he will be reunited with a longtime racing friend from South Africa, who will participate in the event on one of Davidson’s GSXR 1000s.