Triumph Motorcycles, whose bikes have held numerous land speed records over the years, is to attempt to break the record that currently stands at 376.363 mph set by Rocky Robinson in 2010. One of Triumph’s specially designed bikes will compete in the Division C (streamlined motorcycle) category at the Bonneville Salt Flats in the USA between the 24th to 27th August 2015.
The motorbike in question is the 2015 Triumph Rocket Streamliner. It is constructed using carbon Kevlar monocoque. It is certainly a sizeable vehicle being 25.5 ft in length. It is powered by a couple of Triumph Rocket 111 turbocharged engines that use methanol fuel and are capable of collectively producing 1,000 bhp at 9,000 rpm.
They have enrolled the services of Guy Martin (33) to ride the bike who is an experienced racer of motorbikes having competed in events such as the Isle of Man TT and North West 200 races. He has also built up a reputation as a TV presenter having featured in a number of documentaries.
Triumph Motorcycles has been in existence in the UK since 1902 when it manufactured its first motorbike with a 2.2hp engine. By 1927, it was employing 3,000 staff and producing 30,000 motorcycles each year. It provided thousands of bikes to the military in both World Wars. Marlon Brando road one of its motorbikes in the film The Wild One in 1954 – a Thunderbird 6T with a 650cc engine.
It was some 45 years ago that the land speed record was last retained by the UK. In fact, Triumph held the “World’s Fastest Motorcycle” record between 1955 to 1970, apart from a period of 33 days. A number of bikes held the record with the Gyronaut X1 reaching 245.667 mph.
The last testing of this high-powered motorbike is to take place in the middle of this month. Let us hope that all goes well for those involved in this record breaking attempt over a measured mile and that the land speed record is brought back to the UK by Triumph Motorcycles and Guy Martin.
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