AMA Dragbike Orient Express US Motorcycle Nationals ATCO Raceway

Some of the fiercest seven-second battles ever hit New Jersey.

From the December, 2009 issue of Super Streetbike

By Matt Polito

Photography by Chris Simmons, Matt Polito

Two days of persistent rains caused some major frustration at the AMA Dragbike Orient Express US Motorcycle nationals. There was a one-shot qualifying session with an early-evening track curfew looming, so the pressure was on.

Local hero and multi-time Pro Street champ Mike Slowe was ousted in the semifinals as Mike Kavos took his Hayabusa built by event sponsor Orient Express from the number one qualifying spot to the winner's circle for his first-ever Pro Street win.

Real Street racer Keith Thompson claimed two victories; he won the special AMA vs. MIROCK Real Street Shootout sponsored by Brocks Performance, giving him a slim two-point lead over defending champ Jeremy Teasley. He then went on to an easy win in the Real Street final when his opponent, Coby Adams, suffered a mechanical problem and couldn't get to the line.

They say Rickey Gadson can't be beat at his home track, but apparently nobody told Joey Gladstone that. The second-year rider took out Team Green's main man in his own backyard for his second SuperSport win of the year.

Going into Atco, Super Street rider John Fernandez was the only undefeated rider left in the entire AMA Dragbike series. He left with the points lead but also with his first loss of the season. Second-generation rider Joe Franco, Jr. scored his first Super Street win bringing his nitrous Hayabusa to the top of the box from the pole position in qualifying.

Despite the questionable weather conditions, the Atco round was completed. With only two rounds left in the series, the racers are about to let it all hang out and push their machines past all sensible limits. There are rumors around the paddock that some track records could fall as a few teams have surprises in store for the end of the season.