Cycle News is a weekly magazine that covers all aspects of motorcycling including Supercross, Motocross and MotoGP as well as new motorcycles
Issue link: https://magazine.cyclenews.com/i/126488
Top Fuel winner Bo O'Brochta. IndyTop Fuel action setsdrag worldon its ear By Greg Guarinello CLERMONT, IN, SEPT. I '[he drag racing world was stunned by the showing of Top Fuel motorcycles at Indianapolis Raceway Park. The bikes, run· ning in conjunction with NHRA's U.S. Nationals for drag cars, were clearly d,1,e hit of the field. For the first time in Iiistory the entire Top Fuel field was in the seven second range. It took a 7.91 second qualifying run or better to even make it to the first round of eliminations. In fact, it took a clocking of 7.56 to make the top half of the eight bike field. What makes it more difficult was that there were 21 bikes pre-entered fot: the race. Leading off qualifying was red hot Bo O'Brochta. O'Brochta,. aboard the Tenninal Van Lines owned, Karata Enterprises sponsored blown Kawasaki ran a potential record 7.28 seconds out of the truck. Due to mechanical failure he wasn't able to back it up. The number two spot fell to the Teson and Bernard Yamaha, ridden by Jim Bernard. Bernard ran a 7.45 at a meet high 196.93 mph for .his spot. Terry Vance, on the Vance and Hines Racing owned, U.S. Suzuki sponsored bike was the surprise number three qualifier at 7.50/185.56. The number four slot was filled by a relative newcomer on a machine he had never ridden before. Larry McBride stole the show as he rode Danny Johnson's recently wrecked Kawasaki. to a 7.5~/191.08 clocking. Johnson had completed rebuilding the bike just in time to drive it to Indy. McBride has previously ridden the Top Fuel Harley of squeeky Bell. The Kawasaki of Motorcycles Unlimited, ridden by Sam Wills, was in the unlucky number five spot as Sam could only muster a 7.59/185.95. The number six qualified rider was also a bit of a surprise as Mike Bruso took the Power Enterprises sponsored A/Fuel bike into the field with an amazing run of 7.71/174.08. Incredible for an injected only machine. The only two Harleys in the field were relegated to seventh and eighth. Elmer Trett took !:tis double H-D to the seven slot with a run of7.80/178.92. Roland Stuan was on the bump when he took his double Harley to a personal best of 7.911170.45. Eliminations got under way with O'Brochta facing his good friend Wills. The two Kawasaki· mounted riders readied themselves when Wills' c1u tch tried to creep him through the lights. To stop it and avoid a red light Wills tried to ease off the throttle and lower the revs slightly. When he did, the staner hit the button and Wills was caught with his revs down. O'Brochta got off to a 7.59/166.35 run while Wills ran an 8.65/110. Vance was the next victor as he took on the Harley of Trett. Vance got a slight holeshot and kept building on it throughout the quaner mile. Vance recorded a 7.55/183.29 while Trett was only able to muster a 9.75/176.81. The next pairing saw Bernard going against Bruso. Bernard had just finished rebuilding the motor in which he had smoked four pistons the day before. When the green came down, Bruso got his customary good launch while Bernard's bike was fueled too fat and bogged befo~ he could make chase. Bruso took the win with an 8.01/171. 75 to Bernard's 8.25 at 171.10. Closing out the round were McBride and Stuart. Stuan knew that McBride had over three-tenths on him in qualifying and tried to anticipate the green light. His guess was not good enough though he red-lighted away any chance of victory. McBride saw the red light and eased his machine down the track with an easy 8.43/164.41 clocking in order to save pans. The first pairing of the second round saw O'Brochta facing off with Pro Stock King Vance. Vance had been impressive during the meet and O'Brochta did not take him lightly. Bo used the lights to get way out in front and just hung on for the win with a 7.58/172.41 while Vance clocked a losing 7.72/185.95. The other semi final pairing saw Bruso facing McBride. Bruso took a gigantic early lead, but blew up his gearbox allowing McBride the chance to ride around him for the win. McBride clocked a fine 7.65/184.80 while Bruso slowed to a 9.88/86.45. The final set newcomer McBride against the wily veteran, O'Brochta. While O'Brochta is a veteran racer, he too is a rookie Top Fuel rider as he has been in the class only since October. The two riders readied themselves for the final. O'Brochta with' the help of his crew, Mike Grey, Dick Wade and Mike Murdoch and McBride with his, Danny and Ronnie Johnson. The race staned with O'Brochta getting a bit of a lead with McBride in hot pursuit. At halfway the race got tighter, but McBride had a problem when he tried to put the bike in high gear. The shift button would not move when he pushed it with his thumb. Showing remarkable control he eased off the throttle and literally jammed the shift button into high gear and rolled the throttle to the stop. As good as his luck had been all weekend long McBride ran out of miracles and the win light came on in O'Brochta's lane. Bo ran a 7.50/170.13 to overcome his young opponent's fine 8.02/168.85 desperation attempt. The win was O'Brochta's first U.S. Nationals victory and catapulted him into first place in the NMRA Top Fuel points chase. • o CO 0') KENNY ROBERTS WASRERE. l~ --- :..Jj .. THE .98. YAMAHAS WERE HERE. GARY SCOTT WAS HERE. MARK BARNETT WAS HERE. WHERE WERE YOU LAST WItEK, What are)ml doingfor the ne:Jlt 10 weeks.' spend them uith the uin:ners for anJy $4.95. (ill]]~ r---------------------------. INTRODUCTORY SUBSCRIPTION Send me 10 weeks of Cycle News for only $4.95. Dept. S8WS1 $2lI.1 CYCLElIlEWS(1 y_I. 060 ISSUES CYCLE NEWS 12 y t36. l 0 100 ISSUES 1 1 $63.1 gY,~=~ 13.,...1. - " ' - - - ' " .... 1he 0 EAST 0 WEST edIlIan. O O This •• - . 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