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/128371
By SCOOrERMAN'A SCOTT ROUSSEAU Hard-Earned, Well-Deserved ile the drag racing discipline does not rank very highly in our reader surveys, that doesn't prevent us from covering this highly specialized and perhaps oldest - think about it - segment of motorcycle racing. In our "In The Wind" section of Cycle News, we still labor to keep that small percentage of readers updated on the latest happenings in the two largest sanctions of motorcycle drag racing, the National Hot Rod Association's Pro Stock Motorcycle division and the bike-only AMA Prostar Drag Racing Series. And when something really cool happens in the sport, something that most readers may not care about, that's when I, Scott Rousseau, unashamed drag racing fan, feel that it is important to talk about it. Such was the case at the opening round of the NHRA Powerade Championship Series at Gainesville Raceway in Gainesville, Florida, on March 20. Now, I'm not here to talk about the first six-second pass ever recorded by a Pro Stock motorcycle, either. While the milestone 6.99 run of defending series champion Andrew Hines and the Screamin' Eagle Vance & Hines HarleyDavidson team during qualifying is totally impressive and most certainly worthy of more ink than we can devote to it in Cycle News, it was also somewhat expected. Other teams had landed in the sixes during off-season testing, and it wasn't so much a matter of if somebody could run a six at the Gainesville opener, but rather when, and who it would be. That honor forever belongs to Hines and the Harley. They are worthy of all due praise for it. But nobody - and I do mean nobody expected that Snap-On Suzuki rider Steve Johnson would be able to pull off a commanding Gainesville victory and be the series points leader for the first time in his career. That would have been akin to plunking down 10 grand and betting that actor Robert Blake would be acqUitted of his murder rap before the verdict - no way it was gonna happen... Right? But it did, and in the process, one of the nicest guys who ever swung a leg over any motorcycle finally got his just reward. To understand the impact of Johnson's Gainesville win first requires a little understanding about Johnson himself, such as the fact that nobody works longer or harder in more ways in one sport than he does. An unabashed promoter, Johnson always puts his best foot forward for not only himself and his sponsors but for the entire Pro Stock Motorcycle category. As the head of the Pr02 Two-Wheel Professional Racers Ogranization, he is the political lobby and the voice of reason on behalf of the Pro Stock Motorcycle class, the redheaded stepchild of the car-dominated profeSSional ranks at N HRA. Here's a perfect example of that: When Harley-Davidson first came knocking on NHRA's door, wanting to play in Pro Stock with a one-off prototype V-twin that was nearly double the displacement of the four-cylinder Suzukis and Kawasakis in the category, Johnson was one of its very few proponents. While other competitors were concerned in a chicken suit for 24 hours straight would somehow benefit Pro Stock Motorcycle, he'd give you his measurements right now. As if his promotional duties weren't enough to make for a 24/7 job, Johnson also races Pro Stock motorcycles, and he has for over 20 years. Far from the superstar status of an Angelle See!. .. uh, Sav... er, Sampey or a Matt Hines, Johnson has always been a steady competitor who has perennially managed to put in the long, hard hours it takes to field a race program that is first-class in appearance, even on the most shoestring of budgets. And even last June, when Johnson earned his first NHRA National win after" 18 years of trying, zero broken .. .[Steve] Johnson has always been a steady competitor who has perennially managed to put in the long, hard hours it takes to field a race program that is firstclass in appearance, even on the most shoestring of budgets. that such a program might upset the balance of the class and render them uncompetitive, Johnson - a Suzuki rider himself - recognized the attention, diversity and promotional value that Harley could bring to Pro Stock Motorcycle, and he worked hard to convince the doubters that it was the right move for the class. Time has proved him right, as Harley's involvement has effectively paved the way for yet another V-twin company, S&S, to become more involved in the sport. On behalf of his sponsors and the class, Johnson also attends numerous car and motorcycle trade shows to represent the sport, visits schools and children's hospitals - if he thought that standing in front of a supermarket or a greasy fast food joint Snap-On tools, 19 I races, 26 red lights, $6 million, 32 destroyed engines, 1,996,845 Delta air miles, one broken foot, three bad checks, 41 sponsors, one thrashed hotel room, two divorces, one dead dog and lots of McDonald's," cruel fate stepped in to rob him of the full joy of winning the Sears Craftsman NHRA Nationals in Madison, Illinois. Unfortunately, Johnson's win came on the same day that Top Fuel dragster driver Darrell Russell of Texas was killed in a racing accident. In its zeal to portray the heart and humanity of NHRA drag racing, the sanctioning body canceled the winners' circle celebrations, effectively robbing Johnson and all other class winners that day of muchdeserved accolades. Now, this is a tangent - and most people, even Johnson himself, might disagree with me on this point - but my firm conviction is that NHRA acted in an unprofessional manner that day in Madison, and not a professional one. With all due respect to the families that have lost loved ones in racing, everyone knows the risks involved in the sport, especially the participants themselves. If it had been a fan that had been killed, that's different, but in any accident where a participant is seriously injured or killed, I believe that a sanctioning body has the right and the responsibility to withhold that information from the fans so as not to make it public knowledge while the event is still being run. The widespread use of scanners by fans who want to get even closer to the action by listening in on the frequencies of their favorite drivers has made that task all the more difficult, but it is one that every sanctioning body should pursue vigorously anyway. The show must go on, and any official information regarding serious injuries or fatalities can and should be released ofter the event is completed. That's all I'm going to say about that. I should have said it sooner. Fortunately, there was no black cloud hanging over Johnson's Gainesville win. This one was nothing but blue sky and rainbows. Sure, he got a break or two when a couple of his opponents - one of them being that slick, six-second factory Harley of Andrew Hines - red-lighted, allOWing him to advance to the final round. But when he got there, Johnson took care of business in dominating fashion, coming from behind to "drive around" opponent Craig Treble and hit the stripe first. It was a masterful performance by a masterful rider. Indeed, a masterful human being. And it would be nice if that win were just the beginning of a great season for Johnson, but - story of his life - it could be the beginning of the end. Johnson's SnapOn deal is good for just the four races of the 2005 season. After that, he could be forced to run a limited schedule or just be parked altogether. It's a potentially sad end for a truly nice guy who has bled for his sport. Whether or not you're a fan of drag racing, you should hope that doesn't happen. If you knew Steve Johnson, you would. Every motorcycle-racing discipline should be so lucky as to have one competitor just like him. eN CYCLE NEWS • MARCH 30, 2005 9S