LE Tonglet is returning to his Pro Stock Motorcycle roots in 2018.
Tonglet, the 2010 NHRA Pro Stock Motorcycle world champion, will return to ride for his family’s team in 2018 with financial support from Kenny Koretsky.
Joining Tonglet on his family-run team will be his father Gary and his brother, GT. GT sat out last season while he and his wife, Nicole started a family. They have 1-year-old daughter, Sophie. The team is based in Metairie, La.
“We’re planning on going to all the (PSM) races this season and without (Kenny) we wouldn’t go to any of them,” Tonglet said. “We’re back to the family operation with three of us making all the tuning calls and when you win a race and it’s your own family making all the calls it is just that much more satisfying. Don’t get me wrong it was awesome winning all those races last year, but it is just not the same as winning it when you are on your own stuff with your dad and GT tuning it. I couldn’t be happier to get GT and my dad out there. It’s a lot of fun. We get along and we never have a dull moment.”
The 2018 PSM season-opening race is the Gatornationals Match 15-18 in Gainesville, Fla.
Tonglet said at the Gators, his Suzuki will be sponsored by Nitro Fish.
A year ago, Tonglet was a teammate to Jerry Savoie. Tonglet won six races and finished third in the final point standings behind Vance & Hines Harley-Davidson teammates – Eddie Krawiec and Andrew Hines.
Tonglet said there are no hard feelings with Savoie at all, Tonglet is just going back to ride for his family’s PSM operation.
“We’re just going to go back to what we were doing and try to get the luck on our side in the Countdown that’s all that matters now,” Tonglet said. “It doesn’t matter how good you are in the early part of the season, it’s the last six races that matter.”
Tonglet said his team plans on testing at Bradenton (Fla.) Motorsports Park March 12-13.
“We actually have a new bike coming out, but it is not going to be ready until after Gainesville,” he said. “We will run our (old) purple Suzuki for the first race and once the new bike is completely done we will run it. We’re hoping to have our new bike ready for the (second race of the season) in Charlotte (April 27-29). We have everything for the new bike, it is just a matter of getting it done.”
