Pro Stock Motorcycle
Pro Stock Motorcycle, formerly known as Pro Stock Bike is a drag racing class that is the two-wheeled equivalent of Pro Stock. It has been a feature of NHRA drag racing since the 1980s when it was added to the professional class structure and has since spread around the globe. The class has for years been dominated by inline-4 cylinder Suzuki based bikes but in recent years Harley-Davidson based V-twin machines have become more competitive due to favourable rule changes. Frames are purpose-built specifically for drag racing and are not based on their road-going counterparts.
NHRA Changes Minimum Weights for Most Pro Stock Motorcycles
Following the NHRA AC Delco Gatornationals the NHRA instituted weight changes for most of the motorcycle classifications.
Reportedly keying off the 5-hundrethds of a second performance differential between number one qualifier Matt Guidera’s Buell and the quickest Suzuki in the field, the DSR entry of Chip Ellis, the minimum weight for the S&S-powered machines was increased from 620 to 625 pounds, and the minimum weight for 2-valve Suzuki’s was lowered from 610 to 605 pounds.
The minimum weight for 4-valve Kawasaki’s was also lowered from 615 to 600 pounds. The Harley-Davidson V-rod entries were unchanged.
Before the season started the 2-valve Suzuki minimum weight was lowered to 610 pounds on January 8th.
Charlie Hadayia, Director of Racing and Customer Service for S&S Cycle, questioned the rational in increasing the minimum weight only for the S&S-powered bikes.
“On Sunday the fastest Matt (Guidera) went was a 6.94 Andrew (Hines) went a 6.95,” said Hadaydia. “I believe the weight adjustment to the Buells was a little premature. When you run within a hundredth, how can you penalize one brand?”
“The bottom line is the national record is held by a Suzuki and they were given an additional weight break over us,” he continued, adding, “We will do our best roll with the punches.”
Hayadia however did agree with the minimum weight reduction Kawasakis. “I am glad they made a weight reduction fro the Kawasakis but I don’t believe it is not enough,” he said.
Long-time Suzuki racer Steve Johnson argues that the decision to reduce weight on the Suzukis is the right one.
“The NHRA states that a five hundredths advantage starts the process to consider a rule change,” he said, continuing to produce statistics that he says show that the Suzuki’s have been at a disadvantage for years.
“In four years we have had 59 races and Suzukis only qualified number one 15 times and 12 of them were Angelle,” he said. “Last year there were 48 top-three spots. The V-twins had 36 of those spots while Suzuki had 12. V-twins had 11 number one qualifiers and Suzukis had five.”
He also defended the decision to make a change after only one race.
‘We only have 12 races until the countdown,” he said. “Each race counts for about 10% of the season. You need to make changes quickly.”
Rob Muzzy, runs the only Kawasaki in the field, was exasperated that his bike was left out of the January 8th rule change. His bike, ridden by Ryan Schnitz is a 4-valve based on the ZX-14 engine.
“We requested a weight change and were turned down just days before the Gainesville race,” he said. “I originally asked for 590 pounds. I am thankful that they considered us. It’s the first time they have given us any kind of break.”
See also
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