Alan Thoresen brings win home in Southern Nationals Drag Racing Meet on his Black Thunder Racing Kawasaki 1400 Modified bike.
Alan Thoresen – Black Thunder Racing – has taken the win on his Kawasaki ZX14R in Modified bike at the NZDRA Southern Drag Racing Nationals II held on Saturday the 2nd of March at Motueka hosted by the Nelson Drag Racing Association.
Alan, who resides in the Ohaupo District, has held many Drag racing titles since 2005, taking wins at various tracks, setting NZ Records and winning the NZDRA National Series Number One Title many times with the most recent being for the 2018 Season.
Alan Thoresen aged 63, has gained notoriety in the racing scene with his Drag Racing over the years and also with his exploits racing the Big Kawasaki ZX1400 a number of times at Speed Week on the Bonneville Salt Flats in Utah USA.
Travelling to Nelson to race at the Southern Nationals II at Motueka with his big Kawasaki ZX14R Ninja modified motorcycle, Thoresen was holding second position in the 2019 National Series, to fellow Drag Racer, Tony Gray with his Suzuki Hayabusa from Morrinsville.
The Motueka Airport runway is closed and used as the Drag Strip with the Christmas Tree, Timing Sensors, and electronics to run the meeting.
The tables turned as both Thoresen and Gray worked their way through a field of some 19 Modified Bikes to meet in Round 3.
As the lights dropped Gray left first on his Hayabusa with a Dial In of 10.25 and Thoresen’s Dial in of 9.60 seconds. Both had similar reaction times with Thoresen’s .140 Reaction time against Grays .139 and only .001 of a second difference.
As they both thundered down the track Thoresen on his Kawasaki ZX14R, ran through the ¼ mile Finish line with an ET of 9.559 at 145.93mph a break out by .001 of a Second, whereas Tony Gray on his Suzuki Hayabusa, ran and ET of 10.196 at 129.08mph also breaking out by .0054 of a second, giving Thoresen the round win, and also giving back to the lead the National Points series in Modified bike.
Thoresen continued through rounds to take the win in the Finals confirming his position as winner of the Southern Nationals II and reaffirming his No 1 Position in the National series.
To date, Alan Thoresen has raced at Taupo, Masterton, and Motueka as the 2019 Series moves to different drag strips around the country. Unfortunately the first part of the series which was to have been run at Tokoroa at Amisfield Airport was cancelled due to bad weather on both the Saturday and the Rain date on Sunday.
The NZDRA National Series continues with the final of the series to be held at Masterton Motorplex on March 23rd and 24th.
Alan Thoresen with his Black Thunder Racing NZ acknowledge the support of Castrol NZ, Katana Batteries, Hamilton Motorcycle Centre, MGM Racing – McIndoe Group, W Whites – RK Chains, Godiva Screens, Violets Coffee@ Pitlane., and his Support Team Neil, Peter, Sonya and Violet.
Words and Photos: Supplied
