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Collin Matiza Sports Editor
HISTORY was recently made at Donnybrook Raceway in Harare when one of the country’s top motorcyclists, Leslie Carlsson, became the first biker in Zimbabwe to race inside the nine-second bracket during the second round of the 2016 Telecel Drag Racing Series. Mounting a Suzuki GSXR1000, the Gweru-born biker clocked 9.966 seconds moving at 226.65k/ph on the resurfaced quarter-mile (400-metre) track on his way to his historic achievement in this ever popular motorsport event in Zimbabwe.

And the 35-year-old rider could not hide his excitement after his Suzuki GSXR1000 machine became the first bike or car to race inside the nine-second bracket during a drag racing meet at Donnybrook.

“Yes, I’m very happy about it and I’m so pleased to have made history in drag racing in Zimbabwe by completing the quarter-mile track inside the nine-second bracket.

“I didn’t think it was possible due to the (high) altitude here in Harare and also our track (at Donnybrook) is slightly uphill.

“But due to lots and lots of practice and lots of support from my sponsors — Transerve — I made it. In fact, I’m so grateful to my sponsors Transerve, they really made it possible for me to make history at Donnybrook because no other bike or car has raced inside nine seconds during a drag racing competition there,” Carlsson said yesterday.

Temba Mazvimbakupa of the Zimbabwe Motorsport Federation was among the first people to congratulate Carlsson over his latest achievement.

“A big thumbs up to Les Carlsson for his history-making achievement of racing inside the nine-second bracket during the drag racing series at Donnybrook.

“This is a phenomenal record and he really deserves all the praise that’s being given to him . . . He is a real champion.

“In fact, there has been some tangible results being produced at the recently resurfaced track at Donnybrook . . . There has been some qualitative results coming to the fore.”