Ian King Suffers Rain in the Main

Following the Gulf Oil – Grand Prix Originals – Top Fuel Bike’s dream debut at the opening round of the European Championship in Hungary all eyes turned to the `Main Event’, the second round at Santa Pod in the UK. The oldest established track in Europe is well known for its unique atmosphere and good racing surface, something lacking at the Hungarian facility.

With a strong showing of local riders in the Top Fuel Bike class the team expected to be pushed hard and in turn start turning the type of performance the Puma constructed machine is capable of.

However, it was not to be as high winds and an exceptionally cold track surface for both the qualifying days meant the hardworking crew had to tune the bike to what would end as even more conservative clutch and fuel settings than at the previous race.

Despite the lack of track time and the conditions the team managed to secure the number two qualifying position behind multiple UK Champion and home track specialist Steve Woolatt but ahead of reigning European Champion Petri Paljakka of Finland.

With the seeding of the qualifying table it meant the King and Woolatt could only meet in what would be a widely anticipated `local’ final but it was not to be as finals day saw persistent rain all day and the event was called mid afternoon.

However, the team had extended their Championship lead and look forward to the third round, at the world class new facility at Tierp in Sweden.

Pictures courtesy of Ivan Sansom, Rose Hughes and Stefan Boman

The team is extremely proud to be supported by many leaders in their chosen markets in their quest for an unprecedented sixth European Championship title: –

APE  – The world’s most innovative manufacturer of aftermarket parts for race bikes
COMETIC GASKETS – The Premier Manufacturer of racing gaskets
BELL HELMETS – The ultimate iconic helmet brand
GATES – The world’s most trusted name in drive belts, hoses and hydraulics
GOEDHALS – The name in precision specialist gear cutting
GOODRIDGE – The most innovative and the best in fluid transfer systems
GRAND PRIX ORIGINALS – The brand for drive and lifestyle, past and present
GULF OIL INTERNATIONAL – The world’s most iconic brand in automotive fuels and lubricants
HYPERPRO – The leading producer of progressive suspension products for motor bikes
JE PISTONS – The world’s premier manufacturer of high performance forged pistons
KENT CAMS – Specialists in motor sport camshaft manufacture, short runs and one -off’s
KIBBLEWHITE PRECISION MACHINING – The highest quality valve train components available
KING RACING – The most successful Top Fuel Bike team in European Dragracing history
MICKEY THOMPSON – Simply the best drag race tyres in the world
MRE –  Leaders in trackside support for drag race components and air shifting systems
MTC ENGINEERING – Manufacturer of clutches for the fastest motorcycles in the world
NITROSHUTTER – Europe’s leading dragracing photojournalists
NCTENGINEERING – Manufacturer of the world’s leading non contact torque sensors for motorsport
PORTABLE SHADE – The best custom branded collapsible canopies available
PRO ALLOY MOTORSPORT – The UK’s leading fabricator of alloy tanks, intercoolers and radiators
PSYCLEWORKZ – The UK’s best custom and race fabricators and innovators
PUMA ENGINEERING – Manufacturer of the world’s most powerful motorcycle engines
RSG CUSTOMIZE – The UK’s most creative website designers and vinyl artists
VANSON LEATHERS – The most iconic brand in motorsport leather goods
WORLDWIDE BEARINGS – The world’s leading supplier of ceramic bearings for racing
ZODIAC – Europe’s largest supplier of performance and aftermarket HD parts

2011 Calendar – FIM/UEM European Drag Bike Championships
28th April-1st May: Kunmadaras, Hungary
27th-30th May: FIA Main Event, Santa Pod Raceway, England
10th-12th June: Tierp Motorpark, Sweden
30th June-3rd July: FHRA Nitro Nationals, Alastaro, Finland
5th-7th August: Sunoco Drag Challenge, Gardermoen, Norway
12th-14th August: NitrOlympX, Hockenheim, Germany
8th-11th September: FIA European Finals, Santa Pod Raceway, England

For more on information on King Racing, visit www.kingracing.com