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Slowe Locks Up Second Pro Street Championship Already maintaining a comfortable points lead, Mike Slowe's Mickey Thompson Pro Street championship campaign got a big boost in round 1 of eliminations of the AMA/Prostar Orient Express U.S. Motorcycle Nationals at Atco Raceway when points rival Kent Stotz went down hard on a holeshot. "After that there was no pressure," said Slowe. "The championship was already locked up." It is Slowe's second straight AMA/Prostar Pro Street championship, and along with his three MiRock 60-inch championships and Pinks TV win makes him the currently most successful no-bar motorcycle drag racer on the planet. After winning the Prostar opener at Valdosta in March, Slowe runner-upped in Atlanta and Indianapolis, and won Memphis and Columbus before racing at his home track at Atco, New Jersey. All the Pro Street competitors at Atco had a difficult and disappointing track surface to deal with in perfect air. "I went testing Thursday, rolled off the trailer and went 7.332 and put the bike away," said Slowe. "But on Saturday, I almost blew it up 'cause it was on the rev limiter so hard. The fuelers and Super Street bikes didn't seem to have near as much trouble as the Pro Street bikes, so I couldn't get it through my head how bad the track really was. The first part of the track was real good. It was when you hit third gear that it started spinning. It took me 'til Sunday morning to make the decision to shorten the bike to 65 1/2 inches, same as the slicker tracks like Columbus and Memphis." By this time, Slowe was uncharacteristically fifth in the qualifying order. With Stotz out, Slowe rode the bike with a comical flair in round two of eliminations. "Basically, the bike left real hard and I wasn't ready for it," reported Mike, who spent half the run with his right leg stuck straight out like bullfrog. "It started pulling the bike to the left and I couldn't get my right leg up on the peg. It threw me off guard." Ron Hughes had redlit in the other lane, so Slowe didn't need to be in any big hurry anyway. "The semis against Mr. Locklear was the most important round for me," continued Mike, referring to legendary North Carolina racer Johnny "Airtime" Locklear. "I was worried about cutting a light on him. I did that, but as soon as I let the clutch out it blew the tire off. I just sat up because I thought I was done. Then I looked up and he was within reach. I guess he had some tire issues too, so after that it was a real pedalfest. It's always good to beat a guy like that. It was good seeing him out there." In the final, Slowe beat Lil' Curtis McDougald, racing in only his second Pro Street event. "Curtis is still new to the class and going through some growing pains with a brand new bike," said Mike. "I figured I just had to do my job. My bike just did what it usually does and it was nice and easy. I did what I told everybody I was gonna do-kick everybody's ass!" With title in hand, Slowe heads to the AMA/Prostar World Finals at Gainesville Raceway November 9-11 in Gainesville, Florida. With nothing to lose and the last chance for record runs in 2007, you can bet Mike will have his Velocity turbocharged Suzuki Hayabusa set on kill. "It turned into another tuners battle at Atco," noted Slowe. "Hopefully, Gainesville won't be that way." Slowe thanked American Suzuki, Velocity Racing, Ward Performance, Falicon, Vanson Leathers, APE, J.E. Pistons, Catalyst Racing Composites, Hyperpro, The Cycle Shop, Web Cam, Mickey Thompson, PR Factory Store, RPM Performance, and World Wide Bearings. |
