The biggest motorcycle drag race of the year is next weekend. Featuring more than $50,000 in purse money up for grabs in ten exciting classes, the Manufacturers Cup Finals will take place on November 12-14 at South Georgia Motorsports Park, in Valdosta, Georgia.
The sport’s top professional riders are scheduled to race, including 10-time Top Fuel champion Larry “Spiderman” McBride and Kawasaki factory rider Rickey Gadson, who has put together the Stock-Wheelbase Challenge class, where drag racing’s elite sportbike pilots will engage in a fight to the bitter end on showroom-short, 200 horsepower bikes–no wheelie bars allowed!
“I am extremely excited that the Manufacturers Cup has been put in place to salvage a rough year in professional drag racing,” says Gadson. “Before the demise of AMA Dragbike, our championship series, I attended the World Finals since 1988 and can’t wait to race in front of the international crowd that this year-end event attracts. And, I’m really excited about the return of Top Fuel.”
Like Gadson suggests, the Top Fuel field should be the best in years, with McBride going up against Chris Hand, Korry Hogan, Geoff Pollard and Tom Perry–each rider looking to lay down sub-six-second runs.
The event will feature a unique “Consolation” eliminator class where all the non-qualified bikes in Pro and Semi-Pro classes will face off with a handicap start and compete for a $500 in prize money. This creates the possibility of seeing a Top Fuel bike giving a three-second handicap to a SuperSport bike–truly a must-see!
Brock’s Performance is proud to be one of the event’s sponsors as well as serving as the title sponsor of the Street ET class. BST wheels will support the Real Street class through Brock’s Performance. Team Brock’s will also be showcasing an extensive selection of products in a midway display and will have multi-time national champion Keith Dennis competing in the BMW Motorrad-sponsored SuperSport class on the German brand’s S1000RR.
“The Manufacturer’s Cup at Valdosta is a ground-breaking event because it represents unity in our industry between companies which are otherwise in direct competition,” says Brock’s Performance President Brock Davidson. “Operations have gone quite smoothly to this point and we have all worked together for the common good of motorcycle drag racing. It’s a great feeling.”
The multifaceted event will feature the stunt riding of Chris “Teach” McNeil, a BMW factory-sponsored, multi-time XDL and Stuntwars World Champion. He’ll be performing shows during each of the three days.
“BMW has really stepped up in supporting our sport,” commented Davidson, “from sponsoring the SuperSport class to bringing their star stunter to entertain the crowd. True drag-race fans should stop by to talk with BMW staff members in attendance at Valdosta. Our sport has not realized OEM involvement at this level in many years.”
Professional qualifying kicks off on Friday at 4:00 p.m.; three qualifying sessions will be held on Saturday. No-holds-barred grudge racing hits the strip from 7:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. that night, with championship eliminations beginning Sunday at noon. Gate entry, including pit pass, is only $20 each day or $35 for the weekend. Kids under 12 years old are free.
For more information about the Manufacturers Cup Finals, Brock’s Performance products, BST wheels and other sportbike performance parts, go to BrocksPerformance.com.
I’ve heard tha the Manufacturers cup people are plaining on running 3 races in 2012 if this is true do they have dates and locations yet. I have a possible sponsor that wants a race schedule so they know how much I going to be racing.
Thanks,
And any help you can give will be great.
Jim Highsmith
I would call Dave Schnitz at Schnitz Racing and let him know about the offer. I have heard the Cup is looking to expand as well. I know all nine of them plan to meet over the winter.