SWEET REDEMPTION FOR
TONGLET IN VIRGINIA
A
t the recent JEGS NHRA Na-
tionals in Chicago, LE Tonglet
lost the Pro Stock Motorcycle
final to Matt Smith when he let his
Nitro Fish Suzuki drift too close
to the wall, forcing him to roll the
throttle before the finish line. Ton-
glet, who is regarded as one of
the most technically sound riders
in the class, rarely makes such a
mistake and when he does, he's
quick to own it. Seven days after
his Chicago gaffe, Tonglet did,
indeed, make good by beating
Screamin' Eagle Harley-David-
son's Andrew Hines in the final of
the Virginia Nationals.
"Last weekend I rode a terrible
race in the final," Tonglet said.
"I told my crew that I was sorry.
I said 'This was on me. I'll make
it up to you. I promise.' I came
out here in Virginia and made
very straight runs. I corrected the
bike very early. Last week I let it
drift over too far. I still don't know
what happened but told my guys
It wasn't going to happen again
and that we were going to win
this race."
Tonglet got off the starting
line first against five-time world
champion Hines and maintained
the lead to the finish line with
a 6.841 elapsed time to Hines'
close 6.848. It was Tonglet's first
win of the 2018 season, and his
first since rejoining Jerry Savoie's
White Alligator team after the
season-opener in Gainesville,
Fla.
"Anytime you race a Harley you
know they're going to be fast,"
Tonglet said. "They made a bad
run in the semi finals but they
IN
THE
WIND
P24
It wasn't a win, but Andrew Hines had a good showing
PHOTOGRAPHY
BY
KEVIN
MCKENNA
