5 April 2011

Matheson Top Qualified, with lowest ET and MPH, making it four from four meetings and two Round wins.

Qualifying saw Matheson first paring, unfortunately leaving the line at sunset. Vision was extremely poor as both riders starred directly into the sun. Matheson said he was keen to run a big number in the first pass, however, it was too dangerous looking into the sun. Matheson said “the bike launched hard and straight, but became very loose as the bike smoked the tyre down the track to record a strong 6.38 at 172 MPH.

The second qualifier resulted in an improvement to 6.27 at 197 MPH, with an early shut off. Matheson said “the bike was very loose at half track, slipping the tyre and “power boating” as the bike snaked down the track due to lack of traction”.

With the track becoming dewy, the Nitro Voodoo Team chose not to run the last qualifier, as they were confident of qualifying No.1. Instead, the Team prepared the bike in readiness for the next day’s racing.

The bike needed no repairs, apart from standard between pass servicing, brakes are bled and the entire bike checked for damage or stress. The second pass destroyed the rear tyre taking out golf ball sized pieces of rubber down to the tyre cords.

Matheson said it is a consequence of speed and happens from time to time. As long as it stays up on the run, I’m not concerned, we have plenty of Mickey Thomspon’s on board the transporter.

Saturday night was building as a big night for Top Bike, with a close points ladder race between Troy McLean and Matheson, with only a handful of points separating the two racers.

The first elimination was against Al Herriman, who had qualified 8th. Matheson launched hard, then disappeared, leaving Herriman chasing boost on his turbo bike at the line. Matheson winning with a lazy 6.52 at only 161 MPH shutting off early, against a struggling Herriman with a 10.3 at a non-representative 94 MPH.

The semi-final was against newcomer Marc Ryder, who had been impressing people around the country in his debut season.

Ryder had been the Dragon Slayer in Perth, knocking out Perth local legend and former Champ Jay Upton 2 from 2 races. Ryder’s form was good and it was going to be a close race.

Matheson said “Marc is an excellent racer, who thinks before he turns on the power. He is learning fast “too fast” and will be a consistent front runner in the Championships in the coming rounds”.

Ryder, on a former Mancuso USA Bike, knew the semi would be tough, but was going to give it everything. That he did, beating Matheson on the tree only to be passed to the finish line with Matheson taking the win recording a 6.69 at 157 MPH against a barnstorming Ryder on a 7.36 at 150 MPH.

The final saw Championship leaders Matheson and McLean up against each other to race for the Championship. Matheson and McLean, both former Champions exchanged barter in the staging lanes, before heading into battle. Both riders keen to put a stamp on the Championship and take out the top prize.

Matheson burned out with a strong blast of Nitro, smoking the rear tyre into a frenzy, as the crowd looked on. McLean with his signature ‘blip’ of the throttle in the wet box lit the rear tyre, then moved into stage in readiness for the lights.

Matheson knew he had to improve on his reaction time, if he was any chance to beat McLean. As both bikes moved into Stage, the lights dropped and Matheson was gone, shutting off early with a dewy track. Matheson wins with a 6.337 at 180 MPH, compared to McLean’s 7.46 at 183 MPH, giving Matheson the win.

Matheson has dominated at Willowbank since his first win back in 2009, wrapping the up Round 2 of the 2009/2010 season, then more recently the Winternationals in June 2010, where Matheson set a new Australian Record and Track Record.

This win brings Matheson 37 points ahead of McLean, with the Nitro Voodoo Team accruing bonus points from each of the four Rounds via Top Qualifier, Top MPH and lowest ET.

Current Points Table is as follows;

Pos.

Name

State

Rnd 1

Rnd 2

Rnd 3

Rnd 4

Total

1

Chris Matheson

QLD

118 (L/T)

147 (L/T)

117 (L/T)

118 (L/T)

500

2

Troy McLean

SQ

65

153

159

86

463

3

Marc Ryder

QLD

–

95

93

64

252

4

Mark Drew

WA

–

71

128

–

199

5

Chris Porter

QLD

47

30

66

47

190

6

Terry Burnett

WA

–

62

62

45

169

7

Mick Murray

NT

44

30

30

43

147

8

Geoff Redgrave

QLD

81

–

–

62

143

9

Jay Upton

WA

–

69

71

–

140

10

Dennis Grant

SA

43

30

65

–

138

11

Kim Stevens

WA

–

98

–

–

98

12

Phil Parker

VIC

20

66

–

–

86

13

Craig Bonwick

NSW

66

–

–

–

66

14

Gavin Spann

SQ

42

–

–

20

62

15

Alan Herriman

QLD

–

–

–

41

41

16

Sam Parker

VIC

–

30

 

 

30

17

Neville Smith

QLD

–

–

–

20

20

(L) Low Elapsed Time   (T) Top Speed

Special thanks to our sponsors and supporters – Red Line Oils, RB Performance, WebCam, Rocket Industries, CRC Industries, PDS Graphics, Kitten Car Care Products, GT Radiators & Machining, Hi-Side Leathers, PR Factory Store and special thanks to Larry “Spiderman” McBride & Steve McBride.

Nitro Voodoo Website: http://www.nitrovoodoo.com.au/