The nitro cowboys of Top Fuel Motorcycle head north to Hidden Valley Drag Strip next week in the hunt for ANDRA Drag Racing Series glory.
Fresh off his latest Fuchs Winternationals crown, three-times Australian champion Chris Matheson is among those making the trek and he can’t wait to set the Top End alight as he attempts to close the gap to current points leader Mark Drew.
Matheson was a visitor and crew member for current champion Chris Porter at Hidden Valley last year while still recovering from a high-speed accident at Sydney Dragway in May 2013.
Having seen what the Hidden Valley Drag Strip is like from the sidelines, he is itching to experience it at well over 200 miles per hour.
“The track is excellent and the crowd is very enthusiastic,” said Matheson.
“The fans will see the fastest nitro Harley and multi-cylinder motorcycles in Australia. Mark Drew on his new bike reset the Australian Twin record to 6.37 seconds and Nitro Voodoo (Matheson’s team) are the current national record holder running 6.04 seconds at over 241 mph (387 kph).”
Matheson says he and Drew will be attempting to re-write the current track record of 6.371 seconds and 205.47mph, set by Athol Williams at around the same time of year in 2009.
But while he is hoping to put on a show, he still has one eye on the ANDRA Drag Racing Series title ensuring the fans are in for some epic battles.
“The win at the Winternationals is a step in the right direction, however, to win the championship from here will be a monumental challenge, one of which we will chase to the very end,” he said.
“Drew has demonstrated recently that he is the man to beat, running consistent 6.3 second passes at well over 220 miles per hour. We are confident the track conditions will be first class. Hopefully the air is dry, which will enable us both to make good, clean horsepower.”
In good news for the team, they have added BlackAdda as a sponsor ahead of the event.
BlackAdda is an innovative ladder levelling stability product providing a solution to ladder safety, designed, developed and owned by Australian safety product inventors Andrew Richards and Jon Scott of Ozsafe Industries.
“The BlackAdda management have a keen interest in Australian motorsport and when discussing the opportunity, saw a natural progression to move to sponsorship to grow brand awareness and recognition for their product,” Matheson said.
“The BlackAdda product has been tested by NATA (National Association of Testing Authorities), a worldwide accredited laboratory, proving the product is seven times stronger than that of the Australian Standard.
“The BlackAdda brand is a good fit. Despite an obvious disparity in the level of risk, as the risk is higher, the Nitro Voodoo Team and I do all we can to ensure we are as safe as possible to make it home to families, so we support that this product works to deliver the same.”
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