Dominant Davis to Skip Atco
By: Jack Korpela
Photo: Dragbikephotos.com

A solid field of 13 motorcycles did not stop Orient Express Funny Bike points leader, Travis Davis from continuing his hot streak by winning his third event of the season at the AMA/Prostar Pingel Thunder Nationals from Indianapolis, IN Despite his tremendous success this season, Davis has yet to qualify in the top-spot, which was captured by veteran Keith Lynn with an impressive 6.74 at 195 mph.

Davis qualified number-two with an on-pace 6.79, followed by Gene Langley's 6.87, and Glen Nickelberry's 6.95, rounding out the only four competitors to hit the sixes in qualifying. Regular front-runners, Tom "Big Money" Perry, and Korry "Hulk" Hogan unexpectedly struggled on Saturday, both qualifying at the back of the pack.

In round one of eliminations, 2001 champion Rob Girard defeated Perry Hollie's Gas/Turbo Suzuki with a rapid 6.91 to Hollie's 7.44

Davis collected his fifth straight round win with a 6.84 as Hogan encountered mechanical problems and slowed to a 13.78.

Winner of the St. Louis race, Glen Nickelberry advanced to round two with a victory over newcomer Champ Wagoner.

The other three first round match-ups were all upsets with Perry defeating number-three qualifier Gene Langley, number-ten qualifier Mark Chisholm beating fifth-qualifier James Guyton, and eighth qualifier John Childers defeating seventh qualifier Richard Provencal.

Davis was awarded a second round bye into the semi-finals to take on Giard, who in the quarterfinals put an end to Perry's Cinderella-ride with a 6.80 to Perry's 7.08.

Keith Lynn took out former Top Gas standout, John Childers with a 7.20 to Childers' 7.42.

Glen Nickelberry also advanced to the semi-final by posting a 7.19, which bettered a venerable Chisholm's 12.83.

In the semis, Keith Lynn recorded low-elapsed time of the meet with a magnificent 6.73 to defeat Nickelberry's 7.61. The victory placed Lynn in his first final of the year and granted him the opportunity to win his first event since Atlanta of 1999.

In the other pairing, Giard got a four-hundredths starting line advantage and ran a respectable 6.84 but could not hold off Davis' imposing 6.77. With the victory, Davis, who had not won an event prior to 2003, has appeared in every final so far this year.

"We went back and done our homework for this year," Davis said. "We put a Turbonectis turbo on it with a nitrous system me and my dad worked up and it has worked great. The best part is that we haven't been tearing up parts either."

In one of the quickest side-by-side Funny Bike races of-all-time, Davis defeated Lynn's 6.77 with his best run of the weekend at a 6.74. Davis' second consecutive event victory has earned him a secure 190 point lead in the championship series.

"I am comfortable enough that I will not be going to Atco," Davis said. "We have enough of a lead where we can just focus on doing well at Montgomery and Gainesville."

Davis is trailed by Rob Giard and Tom Perry in the championship series. Both competitors will have a golden opportunity to close the gap separating Davis and the rest of the pack.

The Orient Express U.S Motorcycle Nationals from Atco, NJ is slated for September 6th-7th. Don't miss out on all the exciting action of the Funny Bike class as competitors will do battle on the tour's only eighth-mile race.