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Larry McBride wins inaugural Pingel Top Fuel Motorcycle championship

It seems fitting that Larry McBride, the face of Top Fuel Motorcycles for 40 years, was crowned the first champion of the Pingel Top Fuel Motorcycle Series, wrapping it up at the NHRA Carolina Nationals, but it took more than reputation to win the title.
22 Sep 2024
Phil Burgess, NHRA National Dragster Editor
News
Larry McBride

It seems fitting that Larry McBride, the face of Top Fuel Motorcycles for 40 years, was crowned the first champion of the Pingel Top Fuel Motorcycle Series, wrapping it up at the NHRA Carolina Nationals, but it took more than reputation to win the title.

McBride’s Pingel/Trim-Tex two-wheeler was consistently the quickest and fastest motorcycle at each of the four events in the inaugural season, and the man they call “Spiderman” for his superhero-like ability to hang onto the handlebars and maneuver around the saddle at 240 mph, rode it perfectly.

McBride wrapped up the championship Sunday at zMAX Dragway, needing only to stage for his semifinal bye run to clinch the championship after winning two of the season’s first three events. McBride did more than stage, making a hard leave before shutting down when his bike moved toward the right guardwall.

"This is just such an honor to win this championship," he said. "But it's my crew who are the ones who deserve this: My wife, my kids, and my crew allow me to come live this dream."

McBride was the low qualifier at all four events – in Chicago, Richmond, Brainerd, and Charlotte – and won the Richmond and Chicago events, where he had the only motorcycle to cover the 1,000-foot racing distance in less than five seconds.

McBride’s lone loss came in the first round of the season opener in Chicago where he fell to Elmeri Salakari, but bounced back to win in the heat in Richmond and with a barrage of 4.80s in Brainerd, and handily defeated second-place Mitch Brown in both of those finals. McBride made it three wins when Brown was not able to contest the final in Charlotte.

McBRIDE'S TRACK RECORD

Chicago
No. 1 qualifier: 4.813
Low e.t. 4.813
Top speed: 236.59
Result: Lost in round one

Richmond
No. 1 qualifier: 4.929
Low e.t.: 4.929
Top speed: 236.67 mph
Result: Won event

Brainerd
No. 1 qualifier: 4.845
Low e.t.: 4.841
Top speed: 240.64 mph
Result: Won event

Charlotte
No. 1 qualifier: 4.824
Low e.t.: 4.824
Top speed: 240.72 mph
Result: Won event