The TVR Power Pro Stock Bike team have had a number of challenges this year, but rider and tuner Dave Beck goes into the final major event of the year feeling confident. The year opened well with a European best run of 7.06 seconds at the Easter meeting. The 1755cc, 350bhp Suzuki suffered some engine damage, but hung on to take the win. The next event was the UEM Main Event at Santa Pod, but we suffered more motor damage before even turning a wheel in anger. The summer saw Dave ride a Finnish owned bike in the European rounds in Finland and Sweden, and while this wasn’t on the TVR Power bike, some valuable data was collected which will be put to good use in the future.

For 2011 there is one remaining round of the UEM Championship left, at the European Finals at Santa Pod in the UK. 25,000 spectators are expected on the qualifying and race days, as the best European drag racers on two and four wheels do battle. The Pro Stock bike class has been very competitive this year, with the Sovereign backed team of Jesper Thiel and Rasmus Olesen regularly run in the 7.1 bracket and even into the 7.0s with their Buell V-twins. Not wanting to be left behind, Fredrik Fredlund imported a Suzuki motor from the Karen Stoffer NHRA race team and has also gone into the 7.0 bracket. Both of these teams have also invested heavily in tuning expertise, with the Sovereign team bringing legendary Pro Stock tuner George Bryce to the European championship rounds, and Fredlund bringing leading tuner Gary Stoffer over the pond.

But coming into the European Finals, the fastest bike outside of the US is still the TVR Power Suzuki. “I think the guys in Pro Stock bike have really raised the bar this year, with 7.0 runs becoming much more regular – in fact you need to be in 7.1s to compete at all,” commented Dave Beck, “speeds have also gone up into the 190mph range now. Guys like Jesper and Fredrik have invested heavily and have got the best advice and moved the class forward.” “We had some problems early in the year, but I have worked hard with all our sponsors and advisors to get to the bottom of the issues and I’m confident we have a motor that will compete at the Finals,” Beck continued “As well as race wins, the guys are all trying hard to be the first bike over here to nail a six second run and I feel we have as good a chance as anyone to do this. We have a fresh motor in the bike now, with some key modifications, plus I also picked up some tuning learning over the summer that will help.” You can see Dave contest the European Finals on the TVR Power bike at Santa Pod from 9 to 11 September. “We are gunning for the six, but we aren’t going to forget we are there to win the event – I want to sign off the year with a big performance for my sponsors!” concludes Dave. Dave is sponsored by TVR Power, Stephen Moon Consulting, MTC Engineering, Falicon Crankshaft Components, PR Factory Store, Worldwide Bearings. Nimbus Motorsport and VP Fuels.