Multiple Australian Top Fuel Motorcycle Champion Chris Matheson has taken home a much sort after Crocodile Skull trophy and a 400 Thunder Christmas Tree after the Nitro Voodoo Team’s effort at Darwin’s Hidden Valley Nitro Up North meeting last weekend.
Matheson top qualified with a blistering 6.26 second pass in hot conditions which earnt Matheson a new track record, more than a tenth quicker than the previous record which has stood for almost eight years.
“We had a race of two days, qualifying was strong with a 6.4, then a 6.26, which was half a second quicker than the next closest competitor in a strong eight bike field,” said Matheson. “We were confident for the next day’s eliminations, only to have rear tyre issues and smoking the tyre in all three races.”
“Regardless, we came away with the number two position in the final behind Mark Drew, who ran a 6.4 on his nitro twin Harley. The points are valuable in this early part of the season and we look forward to the next round.”
Despite the wheel spinning result Matheson was confident looking ahead to the rest of the championship.
“The bike is showing good signs of progress, reliability, and it’s sounding very strong. My yeam really worked hard in the heat all weekend and it paid off with a bag of points, along with a track record,” said Matheson.
“We now hold the ET record at five of the six Group One tracks across Australia, along with the National Record of 6.048sec at 241.8mph (389kph). Perth Motorplex is the last on our list, which we hope to visit later this season.”
“The Nitro Up North event was a great success, big crowds, and plenty of great racing. ANDRA, 400 Thunder, Northern Territory Government, Darwin’s Hidden Valley Drag Strip, all put on a great meeting and we look forward to returning soon.
Matheson would like to thank all his sponsors and upporters: GT Radiators & Machining, Kitten Car Care Products, CRC, Rocket Industries, Performance Wholesale, Great Southern Diesel Service, WebCam, PDS Graphics, Worldwide Bearings, Hi-Side Leathers, Boninfante Friction Inc., Ballistic Racing, Aeroflow, with special thanks to Steve and Larry McBride.
