The Fuchs Winternationals is an event where the best drag racers in the nation meet and it is the same attraction that brings new competitors into categories to prove themselves in Australian drag racing's most highlighted spectacle.
Among those aiming for a place in the spotlight will be Western Australian Greg Durack, who is bringing the country’s quickest turbocharged motorcycle into Top Bike for the first time.
A return to full fields for the category sees nine bikes pre-entered for the Fuchs Winternationals and Durack said he thinks his team has what it takes to be competitive.
“Anything can happen in Top Bike, you need to both run well and have luck on your side to win,” he said. “I think we have sorted out our own bike enough now to have some confidence to travel and compete and Top Bike is really where I want to be.”
The race for the Top Bike title at the Fuchs Winternationals has been blown wide open, with the unfortunate crash of championship leader Chris Matheson’s Nitro Voodoo bike at the Nitro Champs in Sydney meaning there is no clear favourite.
“We would like to be somewhere in the middle of the pack in qualifying for the Fuchs Winternationals and then who knows what can happen,” Durack said. “I have to get used to the pro tree start (the single flash of the amber lights), then with some consistency on our side I think we should be competitive amongst the Nitro Harleys.”
Whatever happens, one thing Durack can be sure of is that this trip to Willowbank should be more successful than his last, where disaster took place even before the bike got to the track.
“When we were last towing to Willowbank the bike got badly damaged when the trailer it was in broke loose from the back of John Zappia’s bus,” he said. “We needed to replace the whole front end. It’s been eight years since then and I didn’t even think I would still be racing drag bikes by now but this sport manages to keep you wanting to come back.”
Durack will be the new kid on the block in the Top Bike field, where Chris Matheson will be aiming to hold on to his points lead ahead of Chris Porter and a fast closing Graeme Morell, who won his first ever event at the Nitro Champs at Sydney Dragway.
The nitro-fuelled action of Top Bike will be joined by their dragster brethren in Top Fuel, as well as Top Alcohol, Top Doorslammer, Pro Stock and Pro Stock Motorcycle plus the Aeroflow Sportsman Drag Racing Championship.