The Screamin’ Eagle/Vance & Hines Harley-Davidson team set out this weekend to defend the 2004 NHRA Pro Stock Motorcycle championship they earned with rider Andrew Hines. The 15-race season started with the Mac Tools NHRA Gatornationals at Gainesville Raceway and so far, the season looks very promising.

“This team collected the first six-second run in NHRA history, both ends of the national record and a track record,” Harley-Davidson Racing Manager Anne Paluso said. “We want to defend our championship and this is a great way to start the season.”

On Friday, returning champion Hines put Harley-Davidson into the record books with a 6.991-second pass at 196.10 mph. It was the first pass in the six-second range and the honor was worth a $10,000 bonus from the Mickey Thompson 6-second Club. Hines later improved his speed, reaching 197.45, setting both ends of the national record.

Hines qualified in the top spot with teammate GT Tonglet closely behind in the number two spot. Tonglet set a track record, going 197.45 for a career-best speed along with a career-best elapsed time of 7.007. He and Hines recorded the same speed, but the track record went to Tonglet because he made the run first.

Both Hines and Tonglet were disappointed by losses in the second round – Hines by red-lighting and Tonglet due to a mechanical gremlin – but they both gained impressive milestones and kicked off the season with high hopes of winning rounds in the future.

“We came into this event wanting both bikes to qualify in the number one and two positions,” Tonglet said. “We did that and we got into the six-second range too. I really wanted that mark but if I couldn’t do it, I’m just glad it stayed with the Screamin’ Eagle team.

“To be able to run a 7.007 at the first race of the season is saying something about the way the season is going to be. We have two great, new bikes and we’re close to having two good, consistent setups.”

At just 21 years old and with a championship on his resume, Hines had a milestone performance at Gainesville.

“It’s disappointing that we both lost and in the second round too,” Hines said. “Breaking the six-second record was amazing and it topped the entire weekend, but it would have been better to finish the weekend in the winner’s circle. This is a great accomplishment for the entire team, our family and Harley-Davidson. It’s even better that it came at the start of the season.

“Now we have to focus on winning rounds and winning races. We need to start running for our second championship, and we have 14 races left to make that happen.”