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New
UEM Top Fuel Bike Champion Ian King is always professional in his
appearance and approach and the team publish their own press releases
on a regular basis. We have included the latest one at the bottom of
this page and in addition took the opportunity to ask Ian a few
questions that we were interested to find out his thoughts on..
What would you say is the most important factor that contributed to your championship title win this season? IK: Reliability and consistency, which is the result of a good team and the best components. Would
you like to comment on the new concept that max 5 out of the 6 events
was allowed to count this season? Would you like to see that stay in
the regulations or do you prefer to be allowed to count all events ?IK:
The problem is one of cost for most teams, they cannot afford to
participate in as many events as they would like to and the prize fund
covers only a small part of the cost even if you win the event. I think
that we should be looking for quality not quantity, and so less events
but all counting should be the future. I am not happy that those of us
who make the effort to compete in all championship events are not
rewarded for doing so, as is the norm in other sanctions. I already
made a proposal to the Championship Rights holder that may help riders
financially in 2013.  With Peter Svensson and Rikard Gustafsson - the top trio in the UEM Top Fuel Bike Championship 2012
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 What does the forthcoming months look like for you, what is on the agenda?IK: We
have a number of static and demonstration events with the bike over the
next few weeks, along with the UK Championship Finals where we have a
chance of clinching the ACU/UK Top Fuel Bike Championship that we are
currently leading. I also plan to visit PRI and the Manufacturers Cup
Finals in Valdosta to meet old friends and sponsors. Is
it realistic to think that for 2013 your team can continue improve
performance at the same steady pace as you have this season? and what
numbers would you say the bike is capable of under the right
circumstances?IK: Absolutely,
we have only scratched the surface of what this bike is capable of. We
have only had the bike for two years. If you look at the combined years
of experience of Peter Svensson’s team and their bike you can see what
can come with that length of time and the knowledge they have acquired.
Clearly our bike has all the right parts and quality to run 5 second
passes, we just need more time to hit the `sweetspot’. Congratulations to the European Top Fuel Bike Champions title Ian & crew! 
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PRESS RELEASE
King wins Finals, secures sixth Championship crown
Litlington, Cambridgeshire, UK, 16th September 2012
The
Gulf Oil – Grand Prix Originals Top Fuel team rider Ian King secured
the 2012 European Dragracing Championship crown in style at the final
round of the Championship at Santa Pod, UK at the weekend, a record
breaking sixth in eleven years.
Despite leading the championship
points table from the very start of the Championship to the finish
there were an exceptionally tight group of riders at the top of the
points leaderboard going into this final event.
Europe’s most
successful Top Fuel Bike team only needed to win one elimination round
to secure an unprecedented sixth European Championship but despite
qualifying in a solid final number two position, elimination round one
was to prove a tense affair for the team mindful of their early exit
due to an electrical part malfunction at the previous round in Sweden.
However,
King made sure the title was his after blasting down the track to
overcome Czech rider Otto Knebl to progress into the semifinals where
he was due to enjoy a solo bye run for the final after his planned
opponent was a no show due to breakage.
The much anticipated
final between Swedish world record holder (and number one qualifier)
Peter Svensson and King took place in glorious sunshine in front of a
huge crowd of over 30,000, many willing the home rider to prevail.
And
it proved a fitting finale for the team and their fans when the tension
got the better of the Swedish class veteran who red lit away his chance
to win by leaving over 0.2 seconds before the green light. In any case,
King’s reaction of +.02 secs. coupled with a faster elapsed time meant
the race would have been his anyhow without the benefit of the red
light by his opponent.
King said:
“We always knew the
season was going to be a particularly challenging one, the bike
sporting so many new innovations is still under development, our
competition have been stepping up their performances, and a grueling
six events across four countries lay ahead. After a great start at the
opening round with a win it seemed that we were to be the form team,
but a succession of rain affected events and the unfortunate first
round loss in Sweden meant our lead was hardly increased from one event
to another”.
“However, our consistency and reliability were key,
we won three of the five counting events, and finished runner up in
another with the first round loss in Sweden a few weeks ago the only
real negative. With some smart tuning and tactical riding at critical
moments the team’s efforts were duly rewarded in maintaining our
position on top of the table throughout the season”.
“Firstly
I’d like to thank my talented and hard working operational team of
Debbie, Gerard, Marius, Martin, Michael and Nick, and most importantly
my support team of Gulf Oil and Grand Prix Originals and their
affiliates across the globe along with our fantastic associate product
sponsors for their unwavering support and world leading products. This
combined team effort is the sole reason why we were able to clinch this
unprecedented sixth title”.
The team travel back to Santa Pod in
two weeks time to take part in the final round of the UK Dragracing
Championships where they also hold the points lead looking to make this
a dream year for the Gulf Oil – Grand Prix Originals bike.
The
team is extremely proud to be supported by many leaders in their chosen
markets in their challenge for the 2012 European Championship:
APE - The world’s most innovative manufacturer of aftermarket parts for race bikes
ACTION CAMERAS - Europe’s leading source for action sports cameras
COMETIC GASKETS - The Premier Manufacturer of racing gaskets
BELL HELMETS - The ultimate iconic helmet brand
GATES - The world’s most trusted name in drive belts, hoses and hydraulics
GOODRIDGE - The most innovative and the best in fluid transfer systems
GRAND PRIX ORIGINALS - The brand for drive and lifestyle, past and present
GULF OIL INTERNATIONAL - The world’s most iconic brand in automotive fuels and lubricants
HYPERPRO - The leading producer of progressive suspension products for motor bikes
JE PISTONS - The world's premier manufacturer of high performance forged pistons
KENT CAMS - Specialists in motor sport camshaft manufacture, short runs and one -off’s
KIBBLEWHITE PRECISION MACHINING - The highest quality valve train components available
KING RACING – The most successful Top Fuel Bike team in European Dragracing history
MICKEY THOMPSON - Simply the best drag race tyres in the world
MRE - Leaders in trackside support for drag race components nand air shifting systems
MTC ENGINEERING - Manufacturer of clutches for the fastest motorcycles in the world
NITROSHUTTER - Europe’s leading dragracing photojournalists
NCTENGINEERING - Manufacturer of the world’s leading non-contact motorsport torque sensors
NGK SPARKPLUGS UK – The world’s number one spark plug manufacturer
PAR WILLEN – Master webmeister and proprietor of HarleyDrags.com
PORTABLE SHADE - The best custom branded collapsible canopies available
PRO ALLOY MOTORSPORT - The UK’s leading fabricator of alloy tanks, intercoolers and radiators
PUMA ENGINEERING - Manufacturer of the world’s most powerful motorcycle engines
RSG CUSTOMIZE - The UK’s most creative website designers and vinyl artists
VANSON LEATHERS - The most iconic brand in motorsport leather goods
WORLDWIDE BEARINGS - The world’s leading supplier of ceramic bearings for racing
ZODIAC - Europe’s largest supplier of performance and aftermarket HD parts
For more on information on King Racing, visit www.kingracing.com
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