Mon, 3 Mar 2003, 07:01 PM "Fast Freddy" Collis to Pilot 2002 Championship Winning Motorcycle

Courtesy of John Harris

DALLAS -- Area 51 Motorsports, a Dallas-based racing team, announced today that it would field a full-time entry in the 2003 NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series' Pro Stock Motorcycle division, and has signed an agreement with Star Racing to acquire the 2002 POWERade Championship winning Suzuki Pro Stock Motorcycle. In addition, Area 51 Motorsports has agreed to power its new bike with Star Racing Pro Stock Bike Engines.

Fred Collis, the 2-time AMA Prostar champion has been signed to pilot the Area 51 Motorsports Pro Stock Suzuki. In 1999, his rookie season, Collis dominated the Pro Stock bike class, setting numerous records for elapsed time and speed, and capped the season by winning both the Prostar National championship and the AMA Prostar Rookie of the Year award. Collis shrugged off any notion of sophomore slump in 2000, and was again the dominant force in Prostar Pro Stock competition, winning his second-consecutive national title.

Collis is no stranger to NHRA competition, however. In 1999, the 32-year-old Americus, Ga. resident participated in four Pro Stock Motorcycle races, reaching the final round in Memphis on a Star Racing entry. Collis is excited by this new opportunity, and is ready to make the most of it.

"Winning races is an awesome feeling, but I want to be more than just a racing champion," said Collis. "I honestly feel like I have something else to offer both on and off the track," said Collis. "Area 51 has put together a championship caliber team, and I am looking forward to having Ken (Johnson) and George (Bryce) in my corner as we chase the 2003 NHRA POWERade championship."

Ken Johnson, a six-time championship winning Crew Chief with the Star Racing Team, has been retained to turn the wrenches for Area 51 Motorsports. Ken has been employed at Star Racing for 18 years and has prepared all of Star's championship winning motorcycles.

Six-time NHRA Pro Stock Bike Championship Team Owner George Bryce will act as a team consultant, with his Star Racing team supplying the engines for the Area 51 entry. Bryce amassed his 62nd career victory as a Pro Stock Motorcycle owner last November at the AC Delco Las Vegas Nationals in Las Vegas, NV. Bryce's 62 wins have come with three different riders: John Myers (33 wins), Angelle Savoie (28), and Bryce himself (one). His Star Racing motorcycles have appeared in 107 final rounds.

About Area 51 Motorsports

Area 51 Motorsports is a Dallas-based, NHRA Pro Stock Motorcycle team that is competing in the 2003 NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series. The principal owners' 75 years of combined experience in motorsports spans the last 20 years in the NHRA, Indy Racing League, NASCAR and the Sports Car Club of America. Area 51 Motorsports was formed in November 2002 by five Dallas-area businessmen, whose desire is to build a championship-winning organization both on and off the track.

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