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Kawasaki's Gadson can Clinch Pro Superbike Title at Houston

8 October 1998

Houston, Texas -- Team Muzzy/Kawasaki Drag Racing's Rickey Gadson can clinch his second straight AMA/Prostar Pro Superbike Championship at the Gulf Coast Nationals October 10-11 at Houston Raceway Park.

Gadson enters the seventh round of the eight-stop AMA/Prostar Motorcycle Drag Racing Tour with a huge lead in the Pro Superbike standings over rival David Mayo. Gadson has won all but one of the six events held this season. His lone loss was to Mayo at the fifth round at Indianapolis Raceway Park.

"My transmission popped out of second gear, and David was on his best run of the season so I couldn't make up the lost time," said Gadson.

In the past two events at Indianapolis and New Jersey's Atco Raceway, Gadson's home track, Gadson has set new Elapsed Time (ET) records for the class. He lowered the mark .05 seconds with a 9.32 pass at Atco.

He also holds the top speed record of 146 mph set last year. "Because of Team Muzzy/Kawasaki's motorcycle road race program we've been able to gain a few horsepower at each event," said Gadson. "When they find something that makes AMA Superbike Champion Doug Chandler go faster, they transfer the technology to my Kawasaki Ninja motorcycle."

Steve Rice, Gadson's Kawasaki-backed teammate, enters the Houston event after making his first Funnybike class final-round appearance at Atco. Rice lies third in the Funnybike point standings and will be looking to gain some ground before next month's finale in Gainesville, Fla.

Despite his huge points lead, Gadson isn't backing down at Houston. "I'll be going for the win," he said. "I want to lock up the title and cruise into the last round at Gainseville with the championship."