Motorcycle drag racing

A rider in black jeans and tennis shoes seen from behind on a Suzuki Hayabusa motorcycle, with a green light to his right.
Motorcycle drag racer at the starting line

Motorcycle drag racing (also known as "Sprints") involves two participants lining up at a dragstrip with a signaled starting line. Upon the starting signal, the riders accelerate down a 1⁄4 mile (0.40 km) long, two lane, straight paved track where their elapsed time and terminal speed are recorded. The rider to reach the finish line first is the winner. The best-known form of motorcycle drag racing is the Pro Stock Bike category, although several other categories exist, including 1,000 horsepower (750 kW) nitromethane engine.

Motorcycles in the Top Fuel category are fueled by nitro methane and can make nearly 1,500 horsepower.[1]:116 From a standing start they can cover the first 60 feet in less than a second and can reach 200 mph in less than eighth-mile or 660 feet.[2] The current world record is held by Peter Svensson of Sweden who covered the quarter-mile in 5.709 seconds on August 24, 2012 at his home track of Tierp Arena.[3]

The North American record is held by Top Fuel Veteran Larry "Spiderman" McBride at 5.74, recorded at South Georgia Motorsports Park in November 2008.[4]

Elmer Trett is considered by many to be the greatest motorcycle drag racer ever. Before his untimely death in 1996 at Indianapolis Raceway Park, Trett recorded a 6.06.[5]

See also

References

  1. ↑ Matt Polito (September 2005). "Race Watch: Quickest of the Quick". Cycle World.
  2. ↑ McCarthy, Tom (19 November 2013). "The Top Fuel Battle in Bradenton - One for the Drag bike Record Books". CycleDrag.com. Retrieved 2015-06-23.
  3. ↑ McCarthy, Tom. "Quickest Drag Run Ever". http://www.Cycledrag.com. Retrieved 6 November 2013. External link in |publisher= (help)
  4. ↑ Korpela, Jack. "McBride Shatters World Record". http://cycledrag.com. Retrieved 6 November 2013. External link in |publisher= (help)
  5. ↑ Korpela, Jack. "Racers Remember Trett". http://www.Cycledrag.com. Retrieved 6 November 2013. External link in |publisher= (help)


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