Sydney’s Niki Taube Zakrzewski became the first woman in the history of drag bike racing to break the 200mph barrier and also set a new ET Record in the quarter mile this past weekend during the Man Cup DME Racing Nationals at Rockingham Dragway in Rockingham, NC.
Niki, who set the previous ET world record at 6.720 in May at Darlington Dragway, shattered that ET with a 6.51 at 200.65mph on Saturday during her first qualifying run. With that run Niki became the first woman in history to ever break the 200mph barrier in a quarter mile in motorcycle drag racing.
But Niki wouldn’t be done breaking records as she eclipsed those numbers in round two of qualifying, posting a stunning 6.450 at 205.82mph to break her previous record, riding her Suzuki she affectionately named ‘Pony’. With that run Niki earned the number one qualifying position in the Nitrous Pro Open Class.
Niki didn’t disappoint in Sunday’s eliminations as she posted runs of 6.487/202.85mph in round one and a 6.490/203.65mph in round two to advance to the finals to face reigning Man Cup Pro Open Champion and points leader Mark Rendeluk.
In one of the most anticipated final round match ups, Niki Zak posted a 6.487/204.86mph to beat Mark Rendeluk’s 6.679/197.90mph, earning her first Man Cup national event win.
“To go from testing at the Rock, right into the qualifications, and posting the new world record of 6.450 at 205.80 MPH was exciting,” she said. “In anticipation of Sunday’s eliminations my team was pumped and ready. Sunday just capped off a great weekend for me and my team to be able to win my first ever Man Cup national event.”
Niki Zak Racing would like to say a special thanks to Dan Wagner, Kathie McGregor, Lowry Callahan, Curtis Griggs Jr, Cliff Lovendahl, Wayne Castleberry, Rick Eaton, Ronnie & Robin Procopio, Lucas Oil Products, Dunn Benson Ford, Robinson Industries, Paul Gast, Rob Bush Motorsports, Digital Image Now, Rockingham Dragway, Man Cup Drag Racing Series, Nitrous Express and all the series sponsors.
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