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/126547
...... 00 0') ...... Terry Kizer hed e auc:ceuful dey et Gulfport. poetIng the best Funny Bike run of 7..,,79.98. topping the event end c:eptwlng the IDBA FIB crown. (file photDJ. Titlists crowned at Gulfport World Finals drags By Tom Pitts GULFPORT, MS, OCT. 11-12 14 The International Drag Bike Association's World Finals at Gulfpon Dr agway saw cham- pions crowned in six Pro and Eliminator c1assn culminating with a down to the wire showdown in Pro Stock. Sid Pogue came away with Number One in Pro Stock with Bo O'Brochta leading the Top Fuel ranks and Terry Kizer doing the same in Funny Bike. In Pro Comp it was Wayne Buckler taking the title while George Bryce was the Modified Eliminator champ. Jim Dodich took Street Stock honors. All six class champions ran Kawasaki based machinery. A large field in aU pro classes set the scene for the most competitiveWorld Finals ever. The top five qualifiers in Pro Stock easily broke the eight second barrier with Superbike Mike Keyte leading the pack at 8.85 seconds/ 149.75 mph. ''I'll need to set both the elapsed time and miles per hour record and win the event to take Number One," said Keyte. "Sid Pogue could be the runner· up and still win the title. For that matter, with the right combina· tion of events Russ Nyberg, Ron Turner or Hamp Osborn could pass both of us and take the honors. MTC/Watson Fiber Glass sponsored Pogue went out in round two to rookie pro Barry Kogut. A quicker reaction time sent RegcJlC}' Kawasaki sponsored Kogut to one semi to face Buckler/Nyberg sponsored Osborn. Teammate and pro rookie of the year Nyberg had been sidelined by Osborn in round two. Osborn made the final topping Kawasaki mounted Kogut with a 9.09/145.86 to Kogut's 9.47/1H.06. The other Pro Stock semi matched MTC sponsored racer Keyte against Turner of RT Cycles. Keyte turned in the fastest ET of the event in Saturday's qualifying, but Sunday ran progressively slower. Keyte trailered former record holder Larry Cook on his way to face Suzuki mounted Turner. Looking for a Number One plate, Turner sidelined Kawasaki mounted Keyte on his way to the final against Osborn. Ron's 9.09/ 143.06 to Mike's 9.14/141.50 dashed Keyte's hopes for this season. In the fmal Osborn's lightning quick reaction time sent his Kawasaki into winner's circle with a 9.13/144.92 over Turner's 9.07/143.76. Osborn's win assured Sid Pogue the Number One plate for next season. Top Fuel offered its share of surprises as Elmer Trett of double· engine Harley fame debuted a new Kawasaki, qualifying in the number five position. Although having handling problems, Trett did eliminate the number two qualifier and privateer Dennis Sargent. Trett fell to veteran Top Fueler Chris Hand in one semi. Hand's 8.78/158.45 just did squeeze out Treu's 8.81/158.45. Motorcycles Unlimited vet Sam Wills gained a ride to the other semi sidelining Top Fuel champ Bo O'Brochta. The Terminal Van Lines/Murdock