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/970089
TEAM 7 RACING'S VALERIE THOMPSON AND DENIS MANNING P118 Interview The feat was all the more impres- sive upon realizing that Thompson made the pass using only three of four gears, and only firing on three of four cylinders. "When I did set that record, there's a lot of things that went wrong inside my cockpit," Thomp- son said. "I was in third gear, my computer screen was flashing in and out, I was in third gear and on three cylinders so it was on the rev limiter the whole time. So I was on three and three!" [laughs] The team addressed the issues the next day, and when they finally headed to the starting line with all four gears and cylinders firing, they were prepared for some great results. "It's interesting, it's what I live for, is to be in a perfect situation and you're two hours away from history," Manning said. "I've been there so many times where there's been a problem, or crashes, had those motor problems, had those, just problems—problems. But I've also been there when the down run was good and you had to turn around and come back. [Streamliners are given a turnaround time of two hours to make their return run for an official FIM World Record. — Ed.] So I always think of the situa- tion this morning as, okay we're two hours away from history." The history they made, however, wasn't the record they were looking for. Still, they might have a record for wrecking at the highest speed in two-wheel history (and walking away). What Now? It all begs the question: Is this the end for the BUB 7 streamliner? "I get more emotional about it now," said Thompson. "That streamliner, seeking that record, the dream for the Team 7 Racing. We don't know what the next step is. The next step is what do we do now? How do we rebuild? How do we recover from all this?" There's no doubt in Thompson's mind as to whether or not she wants to get back into the cockpit of the BUB 7 streamliner. "Absolutely," she replied. "I'll find a way. We will find a way. And I don't want to be without my team. I love them. They're amazing. They sacrifice a lot just like we all do and they know we're right there. And I think that's the big reason they want to keep going. We're right there. It's at our fingertips. We just need a perfect world and a perfect day. We need the right wind and the right track. We got the horsepower. Now we need a new body. We need to get this motorcycle back on its wheels." Although Manning's history on the salt spans all the way back to On Any Sunday, when he and driver Cal Ray- born set a two-wheel land-speed world record in 1970 (yes, that was him!), Manning isn't sure how easy it will be to bounce back five decades later. "I'm not kidding myself," Manning said. "I'm getting advanced age and so the question is, can I do it again? And the sad answer right now is I don't know. I'm tired, I hurt, I got all these maladies, and I'm not real happy with it, but I still have that spirit in me. I still want it. Give me a couple months on my ranch at home and let's see." CN