Eight-time Australian Top Fuel Motorcycle Champion Chris Matheson has been inducted into the Australian Motorsport Hall of Fame. Matheson is the first Top Fuel Motorcycle rider to receive this honor, with his induction taking place during a ceremony at the Australian Grand Prix.
In 2023, Matheson became the first Australian to break into the five-second zone in the quarter-mile, recording a time of 5.92 seconds at 232 miles per hour. This feat was achieved at 63 years of age, marking a milestone in his already distinguished career, which began at age 50.
In front of a large crowd, Matheson announced his retirement, calling his five-second achievement a fitting conclusion to a dominant career. He won eight national titles, maintained a winning ratio of over 80 percent, and set Australian National records in Top Fuel Motorcycle racing.
“To be inducted into the Australian Motorsport Hall of Fame means a lot to me,” Matheson said. “It is a very prestigious honour and one that is a great reward for all of the hard work my team and I have put in over the years.”
He added, “The Nitro Voodoo Team and I set the bar in our sport, and I hope we have inspired many more young riders and teams to better our performance and change history.” Matheson also noted, “It was the right time to retire – we had won eight of the 10 championships we competed in, despite challenges and incidents.”
ANDRA CEO Tim McAvaney praised Matheson’s achievements. “Chris has been a trailblazer within Australian drag racing and an inspiration to up-and-coming bike riders all across the country,” he said. “Fittingly, he is now the first Top Fuel Motorcycle rider to be inducted into the Australian Motorsport Hall of Fame.”
Matheson joins the ranks of notable figures in Australian motorsport, including Jack Brabham, Mick Doohan, and Mark Webber.
