Weight for Brand Types:
Suzuki 1500cc---590**
Suzuki 1655cc---615
Buell 160ci-----625 (as of 5/18/07)
V-Rod 160ci-----615
**I don't know of anyone running a 1500cc Suzuki right now.
Matt,
I am not going to comment of NHRA's recent decision. I have been in your postion before. Our team was the cause of the 40 lb rule in 2004. My bike was a lot quicker than the bikes out there. The Buells were probably not ready for that since they had only been out a few races. We hated it, everyone looked at us with disgust, but that was not going to stop us from racing. Was it fair then? You were riding a Suzuki at the time. I felt they were trying to take away any chance of us winning the championship. I know its different now because there is a separation between V-Twins, but I don't make the rules, nor do I try to sway them!!! We were already working on things before the weight issue came about. We knew your bike was faster than ours, we saw it all year, so we knew since we probably can't go a 1.04 then we needed to work on launches and get our numbers closer to yours, that is why we tested at ORPfor 3 days before the weight ruling. We didn't pick-up much power, sixty footing is where we got it from, we were consitently 2-3 hundredths quicker in 60' at Chicago than St. Louis. You know what momentum can do for a run.
So since you said the weight hurt you about 3 hundreths and in Q4 I ran 6.921 and you ran 6.951, do you feel you would have run a 6.921? If so, do you feel we did our homework since St. Louis? You did have over a tenth on me there. 6.901 to 7.031 We could have just sat back and said all right they get ten pounds and we dont. You can't blame us for trying to win, I am just working within the rules they give me. I don't call and try to get them changed!
Andrew