Super Twin Top Fuel Bike
The
Super Twins saw Svein Olav Rolfstad take the pole with a
6.675, but a loud pop and a report of a "missing piston"
from the top end ended one Norwegian's day. However, fellow
countryman Ronnie Aasen was having a much better time of
things, Ton Pels' exit in the first round of eliminations
handed Aasen his first series title although Ronnie's 6.745/207
in dispatching Joachim Riemer in the first round indicated
he would have had enough in the tank to guide destiny with
his own hands.
Having stumbled in earlier meetings,
Hans Olav Olstad had the moths flopping in the right order
for the first time this season. Initially benefiting from
an atypical centreline clipping pass from Pels in the opening
round of eliminations, Olstad then got around Lorenz Stauble's
wayward early click off in the semis (Stauble had earlier
produced a 6.80/217mph blast for top speed in the class).
In the final round Hans Olav simply out ran an out-of-shape
Aasen with a 6.95/207 taking the win over the new champ.
Top Fuel Bike
Top
Fuel Bike was a real upset fest. The early curtailment of
qualifying left three of the seriously quick nitro burners
on the outside of the field, and allowed a couple of slower
riders to hold onto to their spots in the field. Gary Jones,
the ultimate beneficiary of these rolls of the dice, had
a career weekend onboard his turbo Suzuki, using mid seven
second consistency to take the event win, defeating two
six second fuel bikes on the way, and running a 7.46 new
PB in the final as well.
Jones'
opponent was also beaming at the conclusion of the meeting
as Super Street Bike standout, Jamie Sneddon, had entered
his Honda Blackbird in the UEM class to gain value track
time. After a setting an unofficial best for a SSB 7.66
in taking the bump spot, Sneddon then benefited from Roel
Koedam on Europe's fastest fuel bike clipping the centreline
in the first round, then defeated Neil Midgley on Europe's
fastest funny bike in their semi final match-up. Given the
late running of the final round it was probably appropriate
that a bike equipped with a headlight lined up on one side
of the track.
Having
won the first two Euro rounds, all Ian King had to do was
put in a qualifier to take the UEM title for 2005. Although
a blower belt went west on his first pass, a second session
6.394 improved him to second spot in the field. A first
round exit to Jones after a brief rollback on the throttle
to combat a haze of tire smoke spat the drive belt off initially
had Ian downcast, but securing the number one plate for
2006 improved his mood post race.
