Eight time Australian Top Fuel Motorcycle Champion Chris Matheson has today been inducted into the Australian Motorsport Hall of Fame.
Matheson is the first Top Fuel Motorcycle rider to receive this prestigious recognition and was formally inducted in a special ceremony held at the Australian Grand Prix in Melbourne.
Matheson was also the first in Australia to break into the five second zone over the quarter-mile, laying down a 5.92 second pass at 232 miles per hour (373 kph) in 2023 at 63 years of age to write another chapter in what was already a dominating career in the sport which began when he was 50 years old.
Set in front of a massive crowd, the achievement of the long-pursued marker provided the perfect ending to his dominating career, with Matheson announcing his retirement that same day.
As well as eight national titles and the first ‘five’, he delivered a winning ratio of more than 80 percent, and also held the Australian National record for TFM for the duration of his career, and set track records at every group one level track across the country.
“To be inducted into the Australian Motorsport Hall of Fame is something that means a lot to me, it is a very prestigious honour and one that is a great reward for all of the hard work me and my team have put in over the years,” Matheson said.
“The Nitro Voodoo Team and I set the bar in our sport here in Australia, and I hope we have inspired many more young riders, and teams, to better our performance and change history on their journey as we have- keeping our sport alive for all to enjoy.
“It was the right time (to retire) – we had won eight from the 10 Championships we competed in, despite challenges and incidents,” Matheson added.
“I look forward to seeing the next generation better our history and continue to strive for winning results.”
The Australian National Drag Racing Association congratulates Matheson and all of his fellow inductees on their induction today.
“There is no doubt that Chris Matheson is very deserving of this honour and we are so pleased to see him recognised in this way,” ANDRA CEO Tim McAvaney, said.
“Chris has been a trail blazer within Australian drag racing and an inspiration to up and coming bike riders all across the country, and fittingly he is now the first Top Fuel Motorcycle rider to be inducted into the Australian Motorsport Hall of Fame.
“I hope the Australian drag racing community will join with me in congratulating him on this achievement.”
Matheson is the first Top Fuel Motorcycle Drag Racer, in Australian history, to be inducted into the Australian Motorsport Hall of Fame, which includes such greats as Jack Brabham, Mick Doohan, Mark Webber, Peter Brock and drag racing leaders Graham Withers (2024), Victor Bray (2023), Eddie Thomas (2019), Larry Ormsby OAM (2019), Graeme Cowin (2018), Jim Read (2017) and Ash Marshall (2016). To see a full listing of this year’s past inductees, go to www.australianmotorsporthalloffame.com.au/inductees
For more from ANDRA, visit www.andra.com.au
