For the better part of the last two years, Richard Gadson has been a star in the making for the Vance & Hines team. This weekend at the NHRA Thunder Valley Nationals in Bristol, Tennessee, Gadson fulfilled a lot of the promise he’s shown by winning his first Pro Stock Motorcycle event.
Story by Kevin McKenna
Gadson didn’t just win, he beat the hottest rider in the class, teammate Gaige Herrera. And Gadson didn’t just beat Herrera, he won the final round by way of a starting line holeshot, leaving the starting line first and running a 6.884-second elapsed time to edge Herrera’s quicker 6.882 in a battle of matching RevZilla/Vance & Hines Suzuki Hayabusa entries.
“This is really special, I really don’t know what to say right now,” said Gadson, who was visibly moved by the win. “I can’t thank the Vance & Hines team enough for having faith in me. It hasn’t been easy, and I know I’ve made a few mistakes along the way, but we finally got it done. This is something I’ve dreamed about all my life.”
The first thing is, I’m exhausted. This has been, hands down, the most exhausting thing I’ve ever done. I always knew I could do it, but it’s been a long time coming. I really needed to win this for me. I’m just not used to some of the mistakes I’ve made. I had to dig deep and remind myself of what I’m capable of.
“In some ways I feel like Mr. Almost,” Gadson said. “I almost won three other races. I almost won the Rookie of the Year, but not today. I just needed to make sure I did everything right on my end. Today, the motorcycle is not an excuse. We have three of them, and they’re all good.”
Gadson, who has appeared in four final rounds in his 21 previous starts, rode perhaps the best race of his career in Bristol. After qualifying in the number-two spot with a 6.859, and then powered his way past Charles Poskey and Chase Van Sant to reach the final round.
Gadson may have won the event, but the real story of the weekend revolved around rookie Brayden Davis. Just 19, Davis made his NHRA Pro Stock Motorcycle debut earlier this season in Gainesville with the WAR Team. In Bristol, he landed a coveted ride aboard the Vance & Hines Suzuki rental bike and made the most of it. In fact, he nearly made history.
Davis went to the top spot early in qualifying with a 6.834 and stayed there. He also made his way through the first two rounds of eliminations before the clock struck midnight on his Cinderella story. Racing against Herrera in the semifinal round, Davis double-clutched on the starting line and stalled the bike. The mistake ended what could have been a history-making weekend.
“I had a shot to win this deal, but I made a mistake, and it cost me,” Davis said. “I get pretty emotional, because I expect a lot from myself, but this weekend was awesome. I can’t thank the Vance & Hines team enough for this opportunity. I just can’t wait for my next shot.”
As for Herrera, the loss was just his fourth in 27 final rounds and just his second loss of the season. The reigning and two-time world champion struggled a bit in qualifying and landed in the number-four spot.
On race day, Herrera topped Chris Bostick and Angie Smith and then topped new teammate Davis. Despite the loss, Herrera has a 13-2 record in eliminations through the first four races of the season and enjoys a massive lead in the championship standings.
The Pro Stock Motorcycle class will now move to Richmond, Virgina, for next weekend’s NHRA Virginia Nationals, June 13-15.
2025 NHRA Pro Stock Motorcycle Round 4 Results
FINALS
Richard Gadson / 0.014 / 6.884 / 196.3
Gaige Herrera / 0.032 / 6.882 / 196.24
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Click here to read the 2025 NHRA Pro Stock Motorcycle Round 4 Results in the Cycle News Digital Edition Magazine.
