Santa Pod Raceway
Summer Nationals
July 10-12, 2026
Summer Nationals
The Summer Nationals delivered three days of competitive motorcycle drag racing at Santa Pod Raceway, with close eliminations, breakout finishes, and several dominant performances across the championship classes. While some of Europe’s quickest machines were sidelined by mechanical issues, others capitalized to earn major victories during one of the marquee events of the season.
Sunday Live Stream
Top Fuel Bike
Winner: Phil Crossley – 6.3542 / 224.74 mph
Runner-up: Jiri Lukes – 11.7622 / 68.68 mph
With only four entries, Top Fuel Bike became a battle of survival as two of the quickest qualifiers suffered first-round failures.
Top qualifier Neil Midgley led the field with a 6.112-second qualifying effort, while Rene van den Berg qualified second at 6.351 seconds. Both favorites, however, bowed out immediately after mechanical failures.
That opened the door for fourth qualifier Phil Crossley, who advanced after Midgley broke before making a pass. Crossley then delivered when it counted most, running a strong 6.354 at 224.74 mph in the final to defeat Jiri Lukes, whose race ended early with an 11.762-second pass after encountering problems.
Phil Crossley – photo by Julian Hunt at Eurodragster.com
Funny Bike
Winner: Stuart Crane – 6.1820 / 234.90 mph
Runner-up: Mike Olie – 7.9892 / 116.70 mph
Mechanical attrition played a major role here as well, but Stuart Crane proved untouchable once eliminations began.
After qualifying number one with a 6.222, Crane benefited from an opening-round double-breakout between himself and Neil Daniels before laying down consecutive six-second runs of 6.182 and 6.182 to secure the victory.
On the opposite side of the ladder, Mike Olie advanced after his first-round opponent broke before eventually reaching the final.
Crane closed out the weekend with a commanding 6.182 at 234.90 mph, defeating Olie’s troubled 7.989-second effort.
Stuart Crane – photo by Ivan Sansom and Rose Hughes
Super Street Bike
Winner: Jake Mechaell – 6.6150 / 227.77 mph
Runner-up: Josh Stubbins – 6.8200 / 217.20 mph
Jake Mechaell controlled Super Street Bike from start to finish.
After earning the number one qualifying position with a 6.689-second run, Mechaell received a first-round bye before improving each round of eliminations. He defeated Chris Thomas in the semifinals before meeting Josh Stubbins in the final.
Stubbins reached the championship round by eliminating Chris Reed and Andrew Morrison.
The final featured two strong performances, but Mechaell’s 6.615 at 227.77 mph proved enough to hold off Stubbins’ 6.820 at 217.20 mph.
Jake Mechaell – photo by Ivan Sansom and Rose Hughes
8.50 Bike
Winner: Patrick Merite – 8.7397 / 124.42 mph
Runner-up: Stacey Reed – No Time
One of the largest fields of the weekend produced plenty of close racing.
Top qualifier Paul Hazell opened eliminations with an 8.489 before falling in the second round.
Meanwhile, second qualifier Patrick Merite steadily worked through the ladder, defeating Andy Gordon, Paul Slater, Tom van Dijken, and finally Stacey Reed.
Reed’s weekend ended abruptly in the final after mechanical problems prevented a representative run, allowing Merite to secure the victory.
Patrick Merite (far lane) wins over Stacey Reed – photo by Julian Hunt at Eurodragster.com
9.50 Bike
Winner: Hayden Mechaell – 9.5411 / 127.36 mph
Runner-up: Thomas Cook-Abbott – 9.6209 / 137.70 mph
Hayden Mechaell added another family victory to the weekend by taking the 9.50 Bike title.
After qualifying fourth, Mechaell eliminated Jon Hartley and Mark Gatland before defeating Thomas Cook-Abbott in a competitive final.
Cook-Abbott had reached the final by upsetting top qualifier Adam Hope in the semifinals.
Mechaell earned the win with a 9.541 at 127.36 mph, while Cook-Abbott posted a respectable 9.621 at 137.70 mph.
Hayden Mechaell – photo by Julian Hun for Eurodragster.com
Comp Bike
Winner: Graham Dance – 7.5682 / 176.41 mph
Runner-up: Paul Hambidge – 12.6567 / 59.98 mph
The Comp Bike category featured several upsets before fourth qualifier Graham Dance emerged victorious.
Dance defeated Dean Hope in round one, Peter Field in round two, and then faced Paul Hambidge in the final.
Hambidge had advanced after defeating Paul Rawnsley and Colin Neary.
Dance left first and never looked back, recording a 7.568 at 176.41 mph while Hambidge encountered problems and slowed to 12.657 seconds.
Graham Dance – photo by Julian Hun for Eurodragster.com
ET Bike
Winner: Nicholas Playdon (9.64) – 9.6094 / 140.75 mph
Runner-up: Phil Pratt (8.92) – 8.8733 / 144.75 mph (DBO)
ET Bike once again produced some of the closest racing of the weekend.
Top qualifier Phil Pratt drove through the ladder with excellent consistency before meeting Nicholas Playdon in the final.
Playdon had survived several close rounds, including victories over Jamie Malton and a semifinal bye.
The championship came down to dial-in racing. Pratt crossed the stripe first but broke out with an 8.873 on an 8.92 dial, handing the victory to Playdon, whose 9.609 on a 9.64 dial was enough for the win.
Nicholas Playdon – photo by Julian Hun for Eurodragster.com
Junior Drag Bike
Winner: Harry Isaacs (9.42) – 10.7616 / 65.64 mph
Runner-up: Lyra Humber (10.12) – 10.1193 / 67.93 mph
The next generation of racers put on another excellent show throughout the weekend.
Fifth qualifier Harry Isaacs pieced together four solid rounds to reach the final, defeating Ashley Harris, Levi Morrison, and Sarah Hope along the way.
On the opposite side, Lyra Humber battled through a competitive bracket to earn her place in the championship round.
Isaacs stayed closest to his dial in the final, taking the victory with a 10.761 on a 9.42 dial, while Humber posted a 10.119 on a 10.12 dial in the runner-up effort.
Harry Isaacs – photo by Ivan Sansom and Rose Hughes
Saturday Live Stream
Friday Live Stream
