UEM Vice-President, Mr Ted Bartlett, together with the Road Racing and Drag Racing Commission Chairman, Mr Ap Ruitenbeek, met recently with Mr Keith Bartlett the CEO of the Trakbak Racing, official rights owner and promoter of the UEM Drag Racing European Championship, and its Commercial Manager, Mr Geoff Myers, to define the last details of the 2012 European Championship. In particular, it was decided as follows:
Top Fuel
Since their removal from the Top Fuel class in 2011 teams from the Funny Bike class have been in regular contact and discussion with representatives of Trakbak Racing with a view to the return of Funny Bikes to the Top Fuel class. After a long period of consultation the following changes to the Top Fuel class rules have now been agreed by Trakbak Racing and the UEM. In an effort to ensure the Top Fuel Bike class truly displays only the fastest bikes in Europe a class index of 6.99 has been applied to all bikes wishing to run in Top Fuel. Motorcycles not using Nitromethane as a fuel will be allowed to return to the class providing they can meet the new index requirement. The proposal for a change of name for the Top Fuel Motorcycle class is still under discussion as it was deemed too late to make any such change in time for the 2012 season.
UEM Europa Cup
For 2012 the Europa cup will be contested by the Super Street Bike class, Rounds of the cup will be held at:
- 1st – 4th June 2012 Santa Pod (Main Event) • Kunmadaras {dates to be confirmed}
- 10th – 12th August 2012 Hockenheimring (Nitrolympix)
- 6th – 9th September Santa Pod (European Finals)
There will be 16 bike fields run at all rounds the rules can be found on the UEM home page.
Dropping Rounds
The promoters of the UEM Drag Bike European Championship are all too aware of the extra financial burden being borne by teams in the current difficult financial climate. And with the 2nd round at Tierp Arena being announced as a UEM round rather later than expected, the promoter has decide with the full agreement of the UEM that for 2012 only all teams competing in the UEM Drag Bike European Championship will be allowed to drop one round without penalty.
Class Representatives
In order to ensure that the key issues affecting teams are discussed on a regular and open basis and too encourage good communications between all parties the UEM promoter is planning to hold meetings on a trail basis throughout the 2012 season, with up to two elected representatives of each UEM Championship Class and Europa Cup Class.
These meetings will be held together with the Promoter, Organiser, CoC and the Jury President. Each meeting is expected to last around 30/40 minutes and will be held a approximately a half hour after the last UEM Championship and cup session on the Friday of the following events:
- Main Event Santa Pod
- Nitrolympix Hockenheimring
- European Finals Santa Pod
The full details of all rules changes will be available via the UEM Drag Bike homepage.
(UEM Press Release nr 02/2012)
