MASTERTON man Tony Sampson was just 1 second away from a New Zealand record at September's flying quarter-mile sprint on Dalefield Road, Carterton, so no prizes for guessing what he's shooting for on Sunday when the big bikes return to the venue.
Cliffhanger Promotions is staging the event and they are
as keen as Sampson is for him to improve on his 4.73s (306.22km/h) flying quarter and 9.88s standing.
Sampson rode motorcross from the age of 7 until about 18.
He started road racing in 1988 and received some help from Gregory Motorcycles when riding Yamahas. Then in 1990 Blue Wing Honda, the New Zealand importers, and Yokohama Tyres supplied him with a bike.
In 1990 he won the Battle of the Streets, Auckland, Wanganui, and also won the NZ GP in 250cc production in 1990, and won the NZ GP in 1991. He stopped road racing in 1992 when his sponsor pulled out.
Then in 1998 he bought my first road bike, a Kawasaki ZX9 and has been hooked ever since.
He then went on to own three Yamaha R1, 1000cc bikes and two Suzuki GSX 1000ccs.
He has won all the motorcycle sprints each year and every year his times have got faster.
His goal is to crack 200mph (320km/h) in the next couple of years.
