ManCup starts at SGMP with international competitors

DRO Motorcycle Editor Tom McCarthy is at South Georgia Motorsports Park for the ManCup season-opening "Spring Cup" event. The first of five Manufacturers Cup events runs April 7-9.

An international infusion of top level talent will add to the first race. Ten-time European Top Fuel bike champion Ian King (above) has come to the USA to race the entire season of ManCup racing.

Also, Miss Niki Taube Zakrzewski of NSW, Australia, will be competing in Pro Mod. She finished national #2 in Pro Open for the 2016 season with ManCup and is out to advance her skills in high-speed competition, stepping up from P/O to Pro/Mod. Her crew chief will be Dan Wagner and her drag bike team will compete in select PDRA series and ManCup events in the USA.

They will also campaign a second P/M bike she owns in Australia at select ANDRA/IHRA series events this year.

In the Pingel Top Fuel motorcycle series, Larry “Spiderman” McBride will be seeking his 17th number-one plate as he begins his 39th season of fuel bike racing. In 2016, Larry was in second place all season long until the final event of the year when he edged out Sam Wills in points.

The McBride team, with Stevie McBride heading up the crew chief duties, had to contend with a brand new bike last year and it took them the entire season to get the new machine to see things their way. But by season’s end they were able to qualify #1, win the event, and hold onto their seven-season undefeated ManCup T/F championship title. (Tom McCarthy photos) [04/07/17]