The beginning of a new race season is always a joyous occasion for a racer and their team as the culmination of an entire off season of hard work and preparations, sponsor negotiations, and testing. With the NHRA Pro Stock Motorcycle contingent set to kick off the season at their annual opener in Gainesville this weekend, a number of teams are riding high about the year ahead, and newcomer Katie Sullivan was as hopeful as anyone following the long off season. Unfortunately, a heartbreaking incident during testing on Monday at the South Georgia Motorsports Park in Cecil, Georgia put a damper on the excitement and took the 20-year old Californian out of contention for this weekend’s NHRA Gatornationals.
According to Sullivan and other eyewitnesses, Sullivan high-sided her K&N Filters and Girls For A Change sponsored Suzuki GSXR at 170 miles per hour while navigating difficult winds. Sullivan hit the pavement and slid without injury. Her motorcycle, however, didn’t fare as well, catapulting over the guardrail and breaking into two pieces for coming to rest in the grass beyond the finish stripe.
Not to be deterred, Sullivan donned her leathers again on Tuesday and straddled Shawn Gann’s motorcycle for a half track pass, but made the decision not to compete this weekend in Gainesville. Sullivan will be in attendance at Gainesville however, cheering on her father Charles, who’s entered in Pro Stock Motorcycle with his Sullivan Drilling-backed Suzuki TL1000R
“My plan is to head home after Gainesville, get new comfy gear and a new chassis, and get my butt back to the race track,” said a determined Sullivan.
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