Matt Smith Stops Rival Steve Johnson
In Richmond NHRA Final
T
o suggest that NHRA Pro
Stock Motorcycle riders Matt
Smith and Steve Johnson are
bitter rivals would be a bit of an
understatement. They have a
long history of animosity so any
time they race each other, there
is the potential for fireworks.
When Smith and Johnson meet
in a final round, as they did at
the NHRA Virginia Nationals, it
becomes a must-see event.
The latest round of the Smith-
Johnson rivalry certainly lived up
to its billing with Smith scoring
the 33rd win of his career, and
his first on a Suzuki.
"Winning on a Suzuki been a
goal of mine," Smith said. "I went
to four or five finals on a Suzuki
early in my career, and I never get
to close the deal, and then the
V-twins came along and I've won
one on a Buell, I've won on an
EBR, and I've won on a Victory,
and now I've won on a Suzuki."
More importantly, Smith was
able to take care of business
against his rival Johnson, who
had won the two most recent
NHRA rounds. The duo raced
last month in Houston where
Smith drew Johnson's ire after
making a last-minute switch from
a Suzuki to a Buell before the
final round (a move well-within
NHRA rules).
Smith didn't have the quickest
bike going into the final, but he
was able to improvise. By altering
his staging routine, Smith was
able to grab a huge holeshot
lead at the start and won with a
6.84 elapsed time to Johnson's
much-quicker 6.78. At the finish
IN
THE
WIND
P36
Matt Smith (pictured) met fierce
rival Steve Johnson in the NHRA
Pro Stock Motorcycle final in
Virginia. Johnson won by just
0.006 seconds.
PHOTOS: MATT POLITO
