The MPS Man Win's $10,000 at Gainesville

Dan "The MPS Man" Wins $10,000 At Gainesville

Gainesville, Florida - November 8-10, 1996
10,000 dollars, the biggest purse in motorcycle drag racing! The pressure was on ET racers at the AMA Prostar World Finals. Being held over a three day span raised major concerns over changing weather conditions.

There was head, tail, and cross winds, high and low barometric pressure, high and low temperatures, high and low humidity, it would take some heavy calculations to stay on track for the entire eight rounds needed to go home $10,000 richer. 146 riders started eliminations on Friday. Most of the losers from Friday's first round bought back in on Saturday making the field for the second round nearly as large as the first. Saturday's schedule was to include 3 rounds of Pro ET, but a dew condition that is unique to Gainesville Raceway prevented running the fourth round until Sunday morning.

Dan "The MPS Man" Rudd, came to Gainesville needing a win at this race. For the first time in his career he was faced with not winning a national event in a season.

Mike Konopacki on the other side of the ladder had his own reasons for needing a victory. Konopacki was in a battle for three number one plates. Needing to go further than Doug Peterson to repeat as the Pro ET Champion. Konopacki's confidence levels were high throughout the race. He was racing as if he was connected to the tree. "I was cutting lots of good lights and the bike was running flawless. I knew I was going to go far" stated Konopacki.

The run for the $10,000 came down to these two racers. MPS owner, Dan Rudd came out on top with a .507 light and a 9.903 on a 9.90 dial to Konopacki's .516 initiated 8.866 on a 8.80. When asked about the race, Rudd responded " There were a few tense moments. I was out there for the taking Saturday morning in the second round. I ran a 9.948 on a 9.88 with a .520 light.

My opponent red lighted away a .01 over lap that would have beat me with any light better than a .565. Then against James Pirtle, the Huntsville $10,000 winner, I caught and passed him, rolled the throttle off and on but the bike didn't respond giving him the finish line. I thought, oh no I just gave him the race. We both broke out, him by more. I guess that's the luck factor. Make what you think is a mistake, and have it turn out to be the right decision. Tony Mullen was the closest race of the day, a mere .006 separated us at the finish line. The final against Mike Konopacki was easier than anticipated when he couldn't run the number.

Of technical note, Rudd's ultimate bracket bike was featured in Motorcycle Magazine this August. It has all the latest in state of the art bracket racing equipment. The bike sports a MPS Air Clutch, Throttle Stop, Auto Shift Control, Line Lock, Dedenbear Throttle Stop Controller and Crossover Delay Box, MSD Ignition, and a timed NOS system. "This just goes to show that investing wisely in the right equipment can pay off in the big bucks bracket race world." said Rudd.

All parts sold by MPS are for off road closed course use. They are not intended for use on public streets or highways.

Motorcycle Performance Specialties
5350 McIntosh Point #132 - Sanford, Florida - 32773
Phone: (407)330-9727 - Fax: (407) 322-8632
Sales E-Mail: sales@mpsracing.com

	Gainesville, Florida - November 8-10, 1996 10,000 dollars, the biggest purse in motorcycle drag racing! The pressure was on ET racers at the AMA Prostar World Finals. Being held over a three day span raised major concerns over changing weather conditions.
There was head, tail, and cross winds, high and low barometric pressure, high and low temperatures, high and low humidity, it would take some heavy calculations to stay on track for the entire eight rounds needed to go home $10,000 richer. 146 riders started eliminations on Friday. Most of the losers from Friday's first round bought back in on Saturday making the field for the second round nearly as large as the first. Saturday's schedule was to include 3 rounds of Pro ET, but a dew condition that is unique to Gainesville Raceway prevented running the fourth round until Sunday morning.
	Dan "The MPS Man" Rudd, came to Gainesville needing a win at this race. For the first time in his career he was faced with not winning a national event in a season.
Mike Konopacki on the other side of the ladder had his own reasons for needing a victory. Konopacki was in a battle for three number one plates. Needing to go further than Doug Peterson to repeat as the Pro ET Champion. Konopacki's confidence levels were high throughout the race. He was racing as if he was connected to the tree. "I was cutting lots of good lights and the bike was running flawless. I knew I was going to go far" stated Konopacki.
	The run for the $10,000 came down to these two racers. MPS owner, Dan Rudd came out on top with a .507 light and a 9.903 on a 9.90 dial to Konopacki's .516 initiated 8.866 on a 8.80. When asked about the race, Rudd responded " There were a few tense moments. I was out there for the taking Saturday morning in the second round. I ran a 9.948 on a 9.88 with a .520 light.
My opponent red lighted away a .01 over lap that would have beat me with any light better than a .565. Then against James Pirtle, the Huntsville $10,000 winner, I caught and passed him, rolled the throttle off and on but the bike didn't respond giving him the finish line. I thought, oh no I just gave him the race. We both broke out, him by more. I guess that's the luck factor. Make what you think is a mistake, and have it turn out to be the right decision. Tony Mullen was the closest race of the day, a mere .006 separated us at the finish line. The final against Mike Konopacki was easier than anticipated when he couldn't run the number.
Of technical note, Rudd's ultimate bracket bike was featured in Motorcycle Magazine this August. It has all the latest in state of the art bracket racing equipment. The bike sports a MPS Air Clutch, Throttle Stop, Auto Shift Control, Line Lock, Dedenbear Throttle Stop Controller and Crossover Delay Box, MSD Ignition, and a timed NOS system. "This just goes to show that investing wisely in the right equipment can pay off in the big bucks bracket race world." said Rudd.