After growing up with drag racing, Rockhampton’s Branden Lacey is living his drag racing dream, while now preparing to debut this potent Hayabusa with a need for speed that will see it destined for Extreme Bike.
Lacey, like so many racers spent his childhood at the track while his father Russell – who incidentally also has an Extreme Bike on the way- raced, leaving Branden to aspire to one day feel the rush of racing on the blacktop himself.
It took some time, but Branden now has turned that dream into reality, and even found early racing success.
“I grew up around drag racing my whole life, out at the track with my old man as a kid always dreaming of drag racing, but never had the funds,” Branden recalled. “In 2020 I met my wife and she gave me the drive to buy my first bike, so I went out and bought a GSXR750, rode it couple times, then got the buzz to go faster, so mid 2020 I bought my first Modified Bike.”
Branden purchased a 2004 ZX10 for competition and started his racing life in Modified Bike with instant success taking out the 2020 Modified Bike Track Championship and Benaraby Raceway.
“I was absolutely stoked, first year racing and I took the championship,” he said.
But the need to go faster still was driving Branden.
“I started the 2021 season on the ZX10 but soon got the buzz to go faster again, so I bought the ‘busa – ‘Redneck Express’,” he said.
“It was killer fun, but it was basically a stock Hayabusa with 70 inch swing arm and a clutch. I rode it 3 or 4 times then decided it was time to fulfil my childhood dream of building a bike from the ground up.”
“So in the shed she went and I pulled it down to just the motor and frame. I then contacted the boys from STS Speed Shop, and that’s where it all begun, from basically ground up we went all out on her.”
The Hayabusa was fitted a new DME 70 to74 inch swingarm with a M2 S2 shock. At the front, internally lowered front forks and 16″ front wheel conversion. All new Aeroflow plumbing to go with the new DME fuel cell, 1000hp fuel pump, fuel regulator, RCC billet fuel rail. Radiator delete kit with billet block offs was also installed. A MaxxECU controls the power, with a tablet dash, MPS shifter and 2 button handle bar mounted switch. All new fibreglass bodywork was fitted and layered with a stunning candy apple red finish.
The bike will debut with the stock motor for now in Modified Bike before focusing on Extreme Bike with a new bullet.
“We haven’t touched the original stock 1340cc motor,” said Branden. “Plans are to see what we can get out of the stock motor then it’s time to drop her out and build the turbo motor.”
“I can not thank the STS Speed Shop enough for all their hard work and massive hours to pull off this build. Not only that, their support and help in my career is beyond amazing, they truly are the most helpful people out there, and I highly recommend them to anyone.”
Branden was planning on debuting the bike at Sydney Dragway at the Burson Auto Parts Australian Top Fuel Championship, but unfortunately with an uncertain weather forecast, decided not to make the trek all the way from Rockhampton. He now plans to run the Australian Nationals at Sydney instead.
Branden also wishes to thank his sponsors STS Speed Shop, Rabtech Engineering and Tapered Barber Shop Rockhampton.
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