Event Coverage

Top Fuel Dragster Exhibition, Bahrain International Circuit
Thursday

	Siw Nystad and Gary Page opened the show; this was Siw's first experience of night racing.		Gary got to the finish line first although this was a planned 100-foot pass for both racers.
	Patrik Pers was next up on a bye.		Patrik was going for a half pass but shut off at about 200 feet.
	There were a lot of American accents in the crowd and a lot of these were doubtless down to Harlan's promotional trip to a US Navy base.		After problems getting reverse and then forward gear, Harlan put in a strong launch.
	The homework done by Barry Sheavills' designer Chris Parker has paid off as the car looks great and stands out against the dark track.		That's not Ali Aryan in Ali's car, but Gary Page who got back from his race against Siw only to be told "Put your gear back on and come down to the start line, we've found another car for you to drive".
	Barry didn't know that Gary was there (see today's pit notes) and was taking the chance to settle in to the car, hence Gary's huge holeshot.		Thomas Nataas and Micke Kågered were going great guns to 250 feet where they both clicked off at the same moment.
	Gary Page opened session two, only driving one car this time around.		Car owner Knut Söderquist said that he was impressed at just how quickly Gary got off the throttle when the rear tyres went up in smoke at about 200 feet.
	Micke Kågered was on his way back from his burnout before Thomas Nataas pulled forward.		Harlan Thompson couldn't get reverse after his burnout and had to drive up the track.
	Ali Aryan was in the Bahrain Express in session two, to the cheers of his fans.		Ali put in a tremendous half-pass, all the more impressive for having an opaque visor in the humid night.

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