MUSCAT RIDES TO NEW RECORDS

Top Fuel Motorcycle racer Damian Muscat has set a new benchmark in Australian Motorcycle Drag Racing at The Bend.

At last weekend’s Drag Bike Nationals Presented by Harley Davidson at The Bend, Muscat recorded the both fastest and quickest passes, crossing the line in 5.800 seconds at 394.96km/h.

This achievement follows Phil Read’s record-setting performance in his Top Fuel Car 20 days earlier at the October Spring Nationals at the same venue.

The Dragway at The Bend now holds the Australian record for both car and motorcycle drag racing, making it arguably the fastest track outside of North America.

Muscat and his team travelled 3200 km from Mackay, Queensland, to achieve this feat, also winning Round 1 of the 2024/25 NDRC Top Fuel Motorcycle Championship.

Muscat’s journey to this record-breaking pass has been intense, with a near-miss at Queensland’s Willowbank Raceway in June. 

However, he shattered the existing record in South Australia on Saturday night, placing him in the top 10 globally for Top Fuel Motorcycle Drag Racing.

“We managed to run the best number of my career, and it just happens to be the fastest in Australia. It’s also number eight in the world, so I couldn’t be happier for all our sponsors,” Muscat said.

“It is odd – sometimes the best passes don’t feel that way, as everything just happens so smoothly and that is what makes a good run!

“My competitor (Rob Cassar) in the other lane actually saw the time board and was able to tell me when he pulled up beside me in the deep end, and once my crew came down beeping the horn, it was so surreal.

“As we did some fast runs earlier in the day too it was enough to back it up and reset the Australian record, and it also puts us as equal eighth in the world!”

Despite the flying finish, it was not an easy ride the whole way for Muscat.

In the first run a rider error led to a bike shut down, but in the second qualifier he topped the times.

After a solo in round 1, a second soli finished in the sand trap with the bike on its side after a blistering time.

But he then sent the clock alight with a record-breaking time in the a Final against Rob Cassar.

Taking out the B-Final victory was Corey Buttigieg, over Danny Rickard.

The Bend’s Managing Director, Sam Shahin, is already looking to raise the bar further.

“Australian records that have remained unchallenged for years have now been broken at The Bend. It’s time to challenge the international benchmarks,” Shahin stated.

Round 2 of the NDRC Top Fuel Motorcycle Championship is at Perth on November 22-23, while the next NDRC event is at Sydney this weekend.

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