King continues hunt for Championship crown
Gulf Racing Top Fuel Motorcycle leads
An incident-packed weekend for Ian King and his Gulf Racing Top Fuel Motorcycle saw him finish in second place at the new world class facility at Tierp in Sweden, extending his overall lead in the 2011 FIM UEM European Top Fuel Bike Championship and securing another entry into the record books.
In deploying his parachute during his semi final against former Champion Sverre Dahl of Norway, King became the first rider in UEM European Dragbike history to use such a device. In the process, he ran a best time for the bike of 6.3132s, defeating Dahl’s 6.4754s in what was pulsating viewing for spectators.
Anticipation was high ahead of the third round of the Championship and King, competing on Gulf’s premium range of lubricants and gear oils, had laid down an early marker, posting a time of 6.698s at 208.55mph to take second place in qualifying.
However, during a dramatic third qualifying session, following a best to date pass of 6.3602s at a speed of 215.24mph, King found himself unable to brake adequately on what seemed to be an oily shutdown area. He ran off the end of the track and into the gravel, falling from the machine.
Although he emerged relatively unscathed, the formerly pristine machine did not, with gravel, sand and dust particles lodged in all open areas. The team of Michael Beaumont, Marius van der Zijden, Gerard Willemse and King was not to be deterred, spending more than 14 hours returning it to race ready state.
Prior to the historic semi final with Dahl, King’s first round opponent was home favourite, Peter Andersson Ström. King powered home - 6.3710s to 7.6724s.
Despite the heroics of King and his team throughout the weekend, they were eventually forced to settle for second due to a blistered tyre and concern over slightly low oil pressure readings, which would take too long to remedy in time to make the start line.
It remained a successful weekend as he increased his Championship points tally to 130, 44 ahead of nearest rival, Peter Svensson. Round four takes place at the FHRA Nitro Nationals, Alastaro, Finland at the end of June.
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