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SOMONA, Calif.(July 31) -- Andrew Hines didn't put his Screamin' Eagle/Vance & Hines V-Rod in the winner's circle Sunday at the FRAM Autolite NHRA Nationals at Infineon Raceway. He did, however, hold on to his POWERade Pro Stock Motorcycle points lead. With nine of the 15 events already in the books, that's quite an accomplishment.
Hines earned one round victory on Sunday, one day after earning the first No. 1 qualifying position of the season. He also recorded his third pass in the six-second range - something the entire team is proud of.
"That third pass in the sixes was a great confidence booster for Andrew and the entire team," Byron Hines, team owner, said. "Hopefully we can build on that for the rest of the year. This weekend showed just how quickly the competition has stepped up. We have a pretty good package right now for the V-Rod. It's not as dominant as it once was, but this weekend was good in the way that we proved to ourselves that we were capable of running with the best of them."
Hines beat Mike Berry in the opening round of eliminations. Hines rode his V-Rod to a 7.006-second pass at 191.10 mph. Berry recorded a 7.140 pass at 185.49 on his MB Precision Machining Suzuki. Screamin' Eagle teammate GT Tonglet lost in the first round of competition. Tonglet turned in a 7.126 at 188.25 in a losing effort against Tom Bradford's 7.003 at 190.83 on the Hal's Harley-Davidson Buell.
Hines lost to Craig Treble in the second round. Hines went 10.558 at 79.06 after the motor broke going into third gear. Treble turned in a 7.008 at 191.10 on his Team Tigue Suzuki.
Chip Ellis and the G Squared Motorsports Buell team earned the event win and picked up some valuable championship points. But Hines still has the lead. Hines has 678 points while U.S. Army Suzuki rider Angelle Sampey is second with 645 and Ellis is third with 627. Antron Brown (U.S. Army) and Ryan Schnitz (Team Muzzy Buell) round out the top five with 617 and 476, respectively.
Hines said he would have liked to put on a better show by defending his 2005 victory at Infineon, but he's still happy with the performance.
"It was great to qualify No. 1 for the first time this season, especially considering it was the quickest field in NHRA history," Hines said. "This was a record weekend with four riders turning in six-second runs and I'm very happy we were part of that."
Hines - the reigning two-time defending NHRA POWERade Pro Stock Motorcycle champion - jumped to the top of the qualifying ladder with a 6.974 pass at 192.69 to take the top qualifying position for the 19th time in his career and first time this season. Tonglet was 15th with a 7.094 pass at 189.92. It was the quickest Pro Stock Bike field in NHRA history.
"I knew it was going to be a fast weekend," Hines said. "When I saw the first few bikes go down the track I knew it was going to be a record-setting weekend. It's a good thing we were able to compete. It shows us where we are in relation to the rest of the field."
Not only was the qualifying field the quickest in history, it was also the first time more than one rider recorded a six-second pass in the same weekend. Bradford (6.981), Brown (6.981) and Ellis (6.911) also recorded sub-seven-second passes this weekend.
"Andrew made his third six-second pass and took the top qualifying position and those are two things the team has been working toward," Harley-Davidson Racing Manager Anne Paluso said. "Now the team can go home, regroup and work on getting everything ready for the next event."
The next NHRA POWERade event featuring Pro Stock Motorcycles is the Lucas Oil Nationals at Brainerd International Raceway in Brainerd, Minn., Aug. 10-13.
Screamin' Eagle Team Records Another Six-Second Run at Infineon Raceway
Hines Maintains POWERade Points Lead
SOMONA, Calif.(July 31) -- Andrew Hines didn't put his Screamin' Eagle/Vance & Hines V-Rod in the winner's circle Sunday at the FRAM Autolite NHRA Nationals at Infineon Raceway. He did, however, hold on to his POWERade Pro Stock Motorcycle points lead. With nine of the 15 events already in the books, that's quite an accomplishment.
Hines earned one round victory on Sunday, one day after earning the first No. 1 qualifying position of the season. He also recorded his third pass in the six-second range - something the entire team is proud of.
"That third pass in the sixes was a great confidence booster for Andrew and the entire team," Byron Hines, team owner, said. "Hopefully we can build on that for the rest of the year. This weekend showed just how quickly the competition has stepped up. We have a pretty good package right now for the V-Rod. It's not as dominant as it once was, but this weekend was good in the way that we proved to ourselves that we were capable of running with the best of them."
Hines beat Mike Berry in the opening round of eliminations. Hines rode his V-Rod to a 7.006-second pass at 191.10 mph. Berry recorded a 7.140 pass at 185.49 on his MB Precision Machining Suzuki. Screamin' Eagle teammate GT Tonglet lost in the first round of competition. Tonglet turned in a 7.126 at 188.25 in a losing effort against Tom Bradford's 7.003 at 190.83 on the Hal's Harley-Davidson Buell.
Hines lost to Craig Treble in the second round. Hines went 10.558 at 79.06 after the motor broke going into third gear. Treble turned in a 7.008 at 191.10 on his Team Tigue Suzuki.
Chip Ellis and the G Squared Motorsports Buell team earned the event win and picked up some valuable championship points. But Hines still has the lead. Hines has 678 points while U.S. Army Suzuki rider Angelle Sampey is second with 645 and Ellis is third with 627. Antron Brown (U.S. Army) and Ryan Schnitz (Team Muzzy Buell) round out the top five with 617 and 476, respectively.
Hines said he would have liked to put on a better show by defending his 2005 victory at Infineon, but he's still happy with the performance.
"It was great to qualify No. 1 for the first time this season, especially considering it was the quickest field in NHRA history," Hines said. "This was a record weekend with four riders turning in six-second runs and I'm very happy we were part of that."
Hines - the reigning two-time defending NHRA POWERade Pro Stock Motorcycle champion - jumped to the top of the qualifying ladder with a 6.974 pass at 192.69 to take the top qualifying position for the 19th time in his career and first time this season. Tonglet was 15th with a 7.094 pass at 189.92. It was the quickest Pro Stock Bike field in NHRA history.
"I knew it was going to be a fast weekend," Hines said. "When I saw the first few bikes go down the track I knew it was going to be a record-setting weekend. It's a good thing we were able to compete. It shows us where we are in relation to the rest of the field."
Not only was the qualifying field the quickest in history, it was also the first time more than one rider recorded a six-second pass in the same weekend. Bradford (6.981), Brown (6.981) and Ellis (6.911) also recorded sub-seven-second passes this weekend.
"Andrew made his third six-second pass and took the top qualifying position and those are two things the team has been working toward," Harley-Davidson Racing Manager Anne Paluso said. "Now the team can go home, regroup and work on getting everything ready for the next event."
The next NHRA POWERade event featuring Pro Stock Motorcycles is the Lucas Oil Nationals at Brainerd International Raceway in Brainerd, Minn., Aug. 10-13.
