Former ANDRA champion Joe Khoury is preparing to kick off another championship campaign at the Alice Springs Toyota Desert Nationals, where the opening two rounds of the 2026/2027 ANDRA Regional Sportsman Series will be contested across a crucial double-header weekend.
The Sydney-based Competition Bike racer believes the long trip to Alice Springs will be worthwhile, with bonus points on offer and a developing V-Rod turbo combination showing the kind of pace that could make him a serious contender when everything comes together.
“Although it is a three-day drive from Sydney to Alice Springs, the double-header weekend and bonus points will definitely be worth it,” Khoury said.
“Last season we competed at Darwin and Alice, qualified well at both, and then came runner-up in Alice against my travel and drag racing partner Cheryl ‘MsVrod’ Beddoes. So, I’m hoping to better that this time around.”
Khoury said the plan is to contest the full season, pending work commitments, as he looks to add to the national crown he claimed in 2022/23.
Central to that push is a fresh combination that stands out even in a category known for innovation.
The Sydney rider has been campaigning a chrome moly chassis bike powered by a Harley-Davidson V-Rod turbo engine.
Khoury said the package has shown huge potential, even if extracting that performance has come with its share of challenges.
“As most people know, I’ve been running a new chrome moly chassis bike with a Harley-Davidson V-Rod turbo motor,” he said.
“It has been done before for the street, but putting it down the drag strip is another story.
“It has been a bit hit and miss with pushing the limits of power and boost, and blowing a lot of stuff up. But when it is on song, it is fast and will top qualify most of the time.”
Despite development setbacks with the new bike, Khoury still finished third in last season’s championship (behind winner Edge Mallis and runner-up, Beddoes), underlining the potential of the combination if reliability improves.
“It is definitely the plan to chase another championship,” he said.
“Considering I had a few blow-ups with the development of the new bike and still finished third in last season’s championship, it shows we’re heading in the right direction.
“It is going to be another tough season. Edge is running very fast. Cheryl is killing it with every pass she makes. And Jake (Hamilton-Moderate) is getting a handle on his new combination as well.”
Khoury also paid tribute to the group helping keep his program on track.
“I would like to thank Jimmy from Twin Tune Performance Centre in Minto NSW for his countless hours on the dyno and advice, VP Racing Fuels Australia for their consistent support and great X85 product, Nathan from Connection Concepts for the MoTeC ECU and log-in support at the race tracks, and Sy’s Harley-Davidson in Campbelltown NSW for parts support and allowing me the time off to race,” he said.
“And finally, I want to thank Cheryl Beddoes for the support and all the fun travelling on the road trips and at race tracks, as well as all of our fellow Competition Bike racers and their families.”
Khoury’s drag racing journey stretches back two decades, having first cut his teeth at street meetings around 20 years ago.
After years of chasing a national title, he broke through for his first ANDRA championship in 2022/23, adding that success to previous track championship honours.
For more information about the Alice Springs Toyota Desert Nationals, visit www.cadra.com.au
To learn more about ANDRA and the 2026/2027 ANDRA Sportsman Series, visit www.andra.com.au