AMRA 2017 WRAP UP
Although there are many people that are stars in this year’s racing sea-
son, we are going to focus on two teams. First, if you haven’t heard of Billy
Doherty, he is the 17 time National Champion. The AMRA races have proved
to be a challenging one for him and for many racers this season. This year
was tough on many levels. At the end of last race season he lost his crew
chief on the Banana. Then his father had a stroke Christmas Eve 2016, and a
hemorrhagic New Year’s Day this year. His father was in the hospital till April.
Working 60 hrs a week and helping his mom with dad, he was able to get
help from Justin Collier on the banana at the season opening race and he
was supposed to be helping all season with the banana. A few weeks after
the season opening race in a freak accident his dad passed away.
At the race in Baton Rouge he won in Open Gas and messed up the motor
on the bike. Because of the time it took to get the crank fixed in the banana.
He was not able to get it back till the September for the bowling green race.
He won the September Bowling Green race. He had closed the points up
with the win. He needed a win at the national final and a national record to
win the championship. He lost in the finals in Rockingham, and ended the
season Runner up in OPEN GAS and 4th in Super Comp.
At the national finals he rode a friend’s bike in Pro Mod. He was chasing
the national championship and needed a win and a national record to win
the championship. Billy won the race on his bike but did not get the national
record. In the2018 season Billy will once again be racing Open Gas but by
the 2018 season opener he will have purchased a Pro Fuel Nitro Harley that
will be racing in the AMRA and the ADRL.
Our next racer is a south Louisiana Racer- Bruce aka “Juiceman” McFar-
land. Juiceman is part of the team Bayou Racing Boys and he took 3rd place
in the Pro Street Dresser class in the finals in Rockingham NC and that was
the last race of the season. He came in 4th place in points for Pro Street
Dresser class in the National point’s standings for the year. He also finished
5th place in Super Comp in National Points standings. So Bayou Boys Racing
had 2 bikes finish in the top 5 nationwide. Juiceman is a man of few words
when it comes to bragging on himself. But the last thing he told me was “go
fast and take chances”.
Hopefully at the end of next year we will have some record breakers to
report and some National titles! Until next year…
26 Thunder Roads Magazine Louisiana/Mississippi | December 2017 | www.thunderroadslams.com