MIRock Superbike Series at Rockingham, NC

Legends Take Big Wins as Season Ends

Words and photos by Tim Hailey

Rick Gadson

Very few names in the history of motorcycle drag racing equal or top those of Billy Vose and Rickey Gadson. These two legends took home big wins from the 10th annual Lee’s Performance Fall Bike Nationals, that annual hustler’s paradise and final race of the Mickey Thompson Performance Tires MIRock Superbike Series held Nov. 3-4 at Steve Earwood’s equally legendary Rockingham Dragway.

Gadson’s win came in arguably the most competitive of all pro classes, DME Racing Real Street. He qualified fifth, well behind multi-time champ Jeremy Teasley’s 7.78, run on one of Roger Starrette’s nitrous Kawasaki ZX14s. But getting quicker as raceday rolled on, Gadson was able to drive around Teasley in the semifinals aboard his own turbocharged 2012 Kawasaki ZX14-R.

With a commanding DME Real Street points lead, Johnny “Turbo” Dobrin was able to claim his first MIRock championship early in the weekend. Dobrin has been to every final this season and this race was no exception. Aboard his own Exoticycle turbocharged Suzuki Hayabusa, Dobrin raced Gadson in Indianapolis last August. Rickey won that round and the final at The Rock was set-up to be a rematch. Gadson had lane choice but Dobrin cut a light on Rickey. RG1—the Original RG—was able to apply the big Kaw’s power more consistently in the right lane and drove around for the win.

Billy Vose

Vose, who has won more pro championships in more major series than anyone in the history of the sport, took the Mickey Thompson Pro Modified win over Tyler Wilson in the final. Wilson rides one of the big V-twin, nitrous-huffing Baggers campaigned by former NHRA Pro Stock Motorcycle champ Matt Smith. Matt wasn’t at Rockingham, so tuning was handled by Matt’s dad “Tricky” Rickie Smith. Wilson slapped an .015 light on Vose, but the MPS horsepower in the Mike Thyen-built Hayabusa Pro Mod that Billy rides powered him around with a 4.19 for the win in the eight mile class.