"VAN" (Sports Desk - 28.03.2024) :: Celebrating 30 years of racing in 2024, three-time Pro Stock Motorcycle champion and current NDRC title leader Luke Crowley has a lot to fight for at next weekend’s Riverbend Nationals – the penultimate round in the popular bracket’s title chase.
Heading to Dragway at The Bend for the April 6 and 7 event, where Pro Stock Bike will run alongside Top Fuel, Pro Stock and the Aeroflow National Sportsman Championship, Crowley is leading the way on the Pro Stock Motorcycle points tally on 288 points over Scott White (216) and Ryan Learmonth (182), with Tony Frost (156) and Jason Lee (126) rounding out the top five.
Crowley’s points tally was helped greatly by taking a win at the Australia Day Nationals in January, with the Queensland racer hoping that he can back that win up with another at Tailem Bend next weekend.
“As a team we are very much focused on bringing home another championship in June,” Crowley said.
“With it being the first championship of the NDRC, I would very much like to have that on my mantle and in the record books.
“It is definitely exciting times in the NDRC at the moment, with everything being learned this year and next year coming up fast and tracks becoming available again, I think next season could be the best yet! But first, we want to win this one,” he grinned.
“Titles mean a lot – we have three already and are chasing our fourth this season, so I think that shows how much Luke Crowley Racing (LCR) is not to be taken lightly.
“And of course, I am always wanting to do the utmost best for the class and showcase how great Pro Stock Motorcycle is here in Australia, so consistent and fast performance is and always has been our team focus.
“We have a goal in mind of what we want to do in the class and will keep on working hard to chase that down.”
Crowley was part of the line-up at the grand opening, sold-out Spring Nationals event at Dragway at The Bend back in October and is looking forward to again visiting the state-of-the-art facility.
“We ran low ET and best MPH in October which tells me that if we can get good weather and no wind next weekend, we will see some very fast times at the Riverbend Nationals,” Crowley said.
In Sydney, Crowley made sure he was in the best possible position heading to this weekend’s penultimate round of the Pro Stock Motorcycle title chase with victory over Learmonth.
“It was good to come away with the win in Sydney on day one, we were straight into racing and even with the water to air ratio not being in our favour we not only won but also set the low ET and MPH in the final pass,” he said.
Heading to The Bend, Crowley has some key decisions to make when it comes to the set-up for his high-powered Suzuki.
“I am waiting on some parts from the USA currently which will make our approach slightly different as we are going to change to a whole new clutch, so hopefully the parts come in time! We will be working hard to ensure it is 100 percent right before we decide to use it on the bike though,” he said.
“We have three engines to use also and right now, I still haven’t decided which one we will use in the chassis. So, there are definitely a few changes possible.
“Along with the new Gen2 MTC Clutch and Transmission ratios, hopefully we will get the performance we have been looking for since 2019, and we can put that to the best use to come away with a victory and more valuable championship points ahead of the big finale.”
While hopeful of a win, Crowley isn’t taking anything for granted in what is a highly competitive bracket.
“It would be awesome to get a victory at the Riverbend Nationals, but there are plenty of tough competitors that we will be going up against, including those that have been testing there and have further knowledge of the track than what we have,” he said.
“So, if we can get a win, it will be very deserved and I think most likely won from the pit area, having made the right tune-up calls.”
If Crowley can clinch the title at the Winternationals, it will be the perfect way to mark not only 30 years of racing after starting out there at the age of just 14, but also his birthday, which falls during the event.
“How cool would it be to wrap up another championship for my 44th birthday!” he smiled.
“It would be a great way to thank all of those who have supported me all this time.
“Firstly, Rhett Lougheed is the brain that has developed our Suzuki engines and still proves how good they are.
“Secondly, Craig Thompson has always been there helping me maintain and keep the engines 100 percent.
“Thirdly there is ‘The Wiz Kid’ Blaze Hansen, the absolute brain in keeping us thinking outside of the box.
“And, as always, there is Mr Andrew “Budge” Budgeon, my partner Donna and her company Quality Building Management, my own company 1800inter.com.au, and Auto Cable and Accessories.
“Here’s hoping we can all be celebrating together at the Riverbend Nationals, and then again in June at the Winters!”
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