Speedgroup Club Europe

UEM Top Fuel Bike - Peter Svensson

Now with the European Finals one month behind us, how do you feel about the season 2011? Any highlights or mishaps in particular you come to think about ?

We have to say this was one of our best seasons ever.We were fast and consistent most of the races with one exeption, Gardemoen in Norway.The bike would not

go straight no matter what we tryed. We later discover we had a bad tire that caused the problem. The highlights of the season was the 202mph at 1/8 mile speed

and of course that 5.88 sek ET at the finals in England.

What are you up to over the winter period?

I dont like the bikes behavior in hight speeds since we start using the M/T tire,we have to work whit this and we planning exchange some ignition stuff.
Powervice I think we will be ok, we can go after it much more if we want.

What can you can tell us about your plans for the 2012 season?

We have not signed any sponsordeals yet for -12 season so we just have to wait and see what happens.

Our hope is to take part of UEM races on the best tracks so we can continue chasing the WR (5.79sek)

See you all 2012! Peter Svensson and Team Kendall Racing

UEM Pro Stock Bike - Jesper Thiel

Now with the European Finals one month behind us, how do you feel about the season 2011? Any highlights or mishaps in particular you come to think about ?

This season has been fantastic for us, we went fast from the start and won the first race in Hungary and then we just kept on going in the right direction.

The bike has just been so fast end very consistent, and I just have the best and very professional crew, they had the tune-up right on that bike at every race.

Unfortunately I went out in the semifinals at Santa Pod, we had the tune-up right on that run and I was I front all the way until 1000 feet, then a fuel line broke and the engine lost power and I got fuel all over me, I was very lucky it didn’t court fire. I was a little angry but that's racing and it was the first and only mechanical failure we had the whole season.

What are you up to over the winter period?

Here in the winter time the two bikes are stripped down to check all parts and we are working on a new more powerful ignition system, new carbon fiber body and working on upgrading the engines to find more horsepower, I know we goanna need it next season!
I am going to US in December to attend George Bryce's school to get a NHRA license.

What can you can tell us about your plans for the 2012 season?

Our plans for 2012 is to run the hole European tour and go for the next Championship, and we will also attend some NHRA races in US. I am sure that European PSB in 2012 is going to be very interesting and with hard competition, they are going to be many fast bikes and riders in the field and I just can't wait till the season starts.

Talking with the UEM champions With some distance to the race season 2011 and looking ahead towards the winter months and in further on the championship 2012.. Read what the UEM champions Peter Svensson, Per Benngtsson and Jesper Thiel have to tell! UEM Top Fuel Bike - Peter Svensson Now with the European Finals one month behind us, how do you feel about the season 2011? Any highlights or mishaps in particular you come to think about ? We have to say this was one of our best seasons ever.We were fast and consistent most of the races with one exeption, Gardemoen in Norway.The bike would not go straight no matter what we tryed. We later discover we had a bad tire that caused the problem. The highlights of the season was the 202mph at 1/8 mile speed and of course that 5.88 sek ET at the finals in England. What are you up to over the winter period? I dont like the bikes behavior in hight speeds since we start using the M/T tire,we have to work whit this and we planning exchange some ignition stuff. Powervice I think we will be ok, we can go after it much more if we want. What can you can tell us about your plans for the 2012 season? We have not signed any sponsordeals yet for -12 season so we just have to wait and see what happens. Our hope is to take part of UEM races on the best tracks so we can continue chasing the WR (5.79sek) See you all 2012! Peter Svensson and Team Kendall Racing UEM Pro Stock Bike - Jesper Thiel Now with the European Finals one month behind us, how do you feel about the season 2011? Any highlights or mishaps in particular you come to think about ? This season has been fantastic for us, we went fast from the start and won the first race in Hungary and then we just kept on going in the right direction. The bike has just been so fast end very consistent, and I just have the best and very professional crew, they had the tune-up right on that bike at every race. Unfortunately I went out in the semifinals at Santa Pod, we had the tune-up right on that run and I was I front all the way until 1000 feet, then a fuel line broke and the engine lost power and I got fuel all over me, I was very lucky it didn’t court fire. I was a little angry but that's racing and it was the first and only mechanical failure we had the whole season. What are you up to over the winter period? Here in the winter time the two bikes are stripped down to check all parts and we are working on a new more powerful ignition system, new carbon fiber body and working on upgrading the engines to find more horsepower, I know we goanna need it next season! I am going to US in December to attend George Bryce's school to get a NHRA license. What can you can tell us about your plans for the 2012 season? Our plans for 2012 is to run the hole European tour and go for the next Championship, and we will also attend some NHRA races in US. I am sure that European PSB in 2012 is going to be very interesting and with hard competition, they are going to be many fast bikes and riders in the field and I just can't wait till the season starts.	UEM Super Twin Bike – Per Bengtsson Now with the European Finals one month behind us, how do you feel about the season 2011? Any highlights or mishaps in particular you come to think about ? 1) We had a lots of ups and downs which started in Hungary when we did not qualify altough we was prepared for poor track conditions 2) The highlights have been many, but winning at Tierp Arena was the greatest, a new track to all, the quickest field in Super Twin ever and the only race for us in Sweden.. Absolutley my toughest event win ever during my 33 year career! 3) Biggest failure was to loose to Acka Riemer in the first elimination round at Hockenheim. 4) The best team effort was that despite changing of pistons, honed liners and welded headers nobody gave up and the championship title is evidence of well functioning teamwork. 5) The best tuning effort by our crewchief ”Putte” Tydinger was when we despite a tricky track at Santa Pod, managed to be low qualifier after session one, set a best of the year ET during the first round of eliminations and follow it up in round two, by securing the championship win! What are you up to over the winter period? - We have suffered from material problems all season, we recognized it to be connected with the liners material first at the European Finals, so now new liners will be produced, the clutch managing system is to be developed further. We also have plans to clone the "beast" engine to keep as a spare or put up for sale We also produce and manufacture a lot of parts for other teams, for example we are putting together a complete engine for Rickard Gustafsson´s new Top Fuel Bike What can you can tell us about your plans for the 2012 season? The Super Twin class took a leap forward during 2011, both in trems of quality and quantity. Unfortunately the promters and event organizer have not kept up the same pace with the exception of Tierp Arena! There are too many championship events and a too big variety in track conditions between the tracks. That is part of the reason why we probably will run at selected events and there is a chance we will test in the US next fall. If the conditions improve we are likely to return to running the full championship.
Jesper Thiel - 2011 UEM Pro Stock Bike Champion Per Bengtsson - 2011 UEM Super Twin Bike Champion Peter Svensson - 2011 UEM Top Fuel Bike Champion
Interviews by Åsa Kinnemar - text provided by the riders Photos by Speedgroup, Remco Scheelings and Ivan Sansom This article is part of the Speedgroup Club Europe Newsletter #16/2011 www.speedgroup.eu Published by Speedgroup www.speedgroup.eu All material, text, images and logtypes are the property of Speedgroup AB. Used by permission from the photographers Any use of the above requires permission from Speedgroup. email: asa.kinnemar@speedgroup.eu © Speedgroup 2011