ABOUT THE SUNOCO DRAG CHALLENGE:
The event was included in the UEM European Drag Bike Championship. It was round #5 for the UEM Drag Bike teams. The organizer of the event was Norsk Dragracing Gardermeon NDRG with official website at at www.ndrg.no 


The event at Gardermoen was live streamed on the web free of charge via Smart TV - producer Robert Karström was on site with a mobile OB-unit monitoring the action via 8 cameras in addition to what the regular TV-crew was filming.

TV-PRODUCTION
The event resulted in a 24 min TV-show. The web-TV version can be watched online at www.speedgroup.eu

ONLINE REPORTS by Speedgroup associated photo journalists Ivan Sansom & Rose Hughes can be found at here:

DragracingOnline
Dragbike.com
Stripbike.com

GENERAL
The weather played tricks at Gardermoen and forecasts was not not promising the days before the event. One great day of qualifications saturday and then the rain put a stop to the eliminations on sunday. Luckily the TV-crew planned ahead and gave all they had on saturday meaning the TV-show from Gardermoen was produced anyway according plan.


Fredrik Fredlund

In Pro Stock Bike reigning champion Ulf Ögge had cancelled his participation shortly before the event after the strike of another unfortunate engine breakdown during tests at Tierp the week before Gardermoen.

For once it was not Jesper Thiel who should show to be in a division of his own, his team Sovereign collegue Rasmus Olesen on the other hand impressed by bringing a new bike to Gardermoen with which he ran a 7.11 sec run during the qualifications. Only one rider was quicker than that, Fredrik Fredlund with 7.09 sec, who after having acquired an engine from team Stoffer in US in june has shown he is a serious candidate to count with for event wins and a top championship placement. 


The lady driver in Pro Stock Bike - Sweden´s Elvira Karlsson is on a learning curve but has established herself well in a short period of time. She competes in the full championship already her first season.

Don´t miss to check photographer Patrik Jacobsson´s photo gallery from Gardermoen and other events published for Speedgroup at www.speedgroup.eu

Roel Koedam

In Super Twin Bike the top trio consisted of Per Bengtsson 6.60 sec, Mark Ashelford 6.61 and Roel Koedam at 6.63. Tight as can be and a real pity we never got to see the conclusion of the event take place.


No. 1 qualifier in Super Twin Per Bengtsson


Ian King interviewed by the TV-crew

In Top Fuel Bike Ian King should prove to be the gigant of the meet. 6.25 sec with the bike which is new for the season was a great improvement. Team Kendall with rider Peter Svensson, who ran in the 5 sec range at Gardermoen two years ago, this time could not find the right combination to match the track, but don´t miss to read the NitrOlympx report in this edition and you will find the delivered what the could not do at Gardermoen at the following event in Hockenheim instead!


Canadian rider Nate Gagnon and tuner Ron Houniet were back on the European championship scene in Top Fuel Bike - 6.77 sec and 3rd quickest during qualifications 


In the UEM funny bike cup Swede Rickard Gustafsson managed to set a new ET and speed record: 6.545 sec (backed up by 6.466 sec (!) and at a speed of 341.23 km/h (212 mph) - Well done Rickard!


Speedgroup´s Åsa Kinnemar and Aila Striem reported from site in cooperation with Eurodragster.com


Announcers Ronny and "Pippi" kept the spectators up to date about the thrilling on track action!