Santa Pod (England), September 9, 2013 - A great semi-final finish for MPM-driver Martijn de Haas at Santa Pod Raceway in what was his second race of the season only. In qualifying the MPM-Super Twin-driver scored a great number three position, to defeat title contender Job Heezen in the quarter-finals, but to pull a red light in the semi-finals. After the highly successful debut at Hockenheim, the race at Santa Pod proved again that major steps have been made speed and reliability wise with the almost completely renewed MPM-Harley, and the Haas Brothers now have a good baseline to start from next season.
The European Finals at Santa Pod Raceway was the fourth and last round of the FIM European Drag Bike Championship. The almost all-new MPM Harley had his first and very promising outing of the season at Hockenheim's NitrOlympX, and so Martijn de Haas and his team were looking forward to this last race of the season. But apart from a good result, test miles were also very important, as was the dream to break the 7-seconds barrier for the first time.
After a solid 7.51 seconds in the first qualifying run, the second run was a promising 7.18 seconds and 200 mph! Run number three was an even better 7.13, but as the speed was 171 mph 'only', the MPM-team knew there was more to come. With 7.37 seconds that was not the case in run number four, but with four low 7-seconds passes, it was loud and clear that, compared to last year, when many runs had to be aborted after hitting problems, major steps were made speed and reliability wise. And the 7.13 second gave De Haas the number three qualifying position!
In the semi-finals De Haas had to face Job Heezen and that gave some mixed feelings for the MPM-driver. Of course De Haas wanted to go for a win, but then Heezen, one of his best friends, was out of the title race. Heezen had the better start, but the MPM-driver came back and with 7.25 seconds was the winner and into the semi-finals, where Samu Kemppainen, last year’s number three in the title race, was his next opponent. At the start, the race was already over. Knowing the Finn had the more powerful bike, De Haas wanted to catch him at the lights, but was away too early and pulled a red light, so Kemppainen was the winner. Later that day the Finn won the final and the race. But with 7.29 seconds, De Haas had a low 7-seconds pass again. All six European Finals runs were between 7.13 and 7.51 seconds and so the Haas Brothers team could look back at a consistent weekend. But they expected a bit more. "It's more difficult than expected to run that first 6-seconds", said the MPM-driver. But the Haas Brothers team proved they are working into the right direction and that first 6-seconds, they will have to wait for that until next season.
- Author
- Remco Scheelings
Dragracing FIM European Championship FIM European Finals Haas Brothers Main event MPM Racing MPM Sports Santa Pod Super twin Top fuel bike
