Motorcycle drag racing

Motorcycle drag racing (also known as "sprints") involves two participants lining up at a dragstrip with a signaled starting line. Upon the starting signal, the riders accelerate down a 1⁄4 mile (0.40 km), 1,000 feet (300 m), or 1⁄8 mile (0.20 km) long, two lane, straight paved track where their elapsed time and terminal speed are recorded. The rider to reach the finish line first is the winner. The best-known form of motorcycle drag racing is the Pro Stock Bike category, although several other categories exist, including Top Fuel and Pro Street.

Motorcycles in the Top Fuel category are fueled by nitro methane and can make nearly 1,500 horsepower, which like their car counterparts, race to 1,000 feet (in effect since 2024 for NHRA events). ^{[1] : 116} From a standing start they can cover the first 60 feet in less than a second and can reach 200 mph in less than eighth-mile or 660 feet. ^[2]

The current Elapsed Time record is held by Top Fuel Veteran Larry "Spiderman" McBride who covered the thousand foot distance in 4.812 seconds on August 15, 2025 at Brainerd International Raceway. The terminal velocity record is also by McBride, at 242.93 MPH on June 21, 2025 at Virginia Motorsports Park. Both are based on the current 1,000 foot distance. ^[3]

Gallery

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  Two BMW S 1000 RR motorbikes at a drag race
• 
  A two-stroke motorcycle designed for drag racing
• 
  A Kawasaki Ninja ZX-6R at the start

See also

• Motorcycle sport
• Sportbike motorcycle drag racing
• Drag racing
• Top Fuel

References

Media related to Motorcycle drag racing at Wikimedia Commons

1. Matt Polito (September 2005). "Race Watch: Quickest of the Quick". Cycle World .
2. "The Top Fuel Battle in Bradenton - One for the Drag bike Record Books". CycleDrag.com. 19 November 2013. Retrieved 2015-06-23.
3. "Behind the Scenes: Pingel NHRA Top Fuel Motorcycle at Brainerd". Dragbike.com. Retrieved 2025-09-05.