Guy Martin’s Chasing the Motorcycle World Land Speed Record
And he wants it this week.
The Triumph North America team is at Bonneville, at the Salt Flats, gearing up to make history. These guys aren’t just aiming to break the motorcycle world land speed record, which currently stands at 376.36 mph. No, Triumph wants to obliterate that number. Engineers are aiming for a 400-mph pass. But who’s bonkers to take a two-wheel Bonneville coffin for that ride?
Enter: Guy Martin. 34. Isle of Man TT stud, and all-around limey badass. He’ll be climbing on the Triumph Rocket, the carbon-kevlar monstrosity purpose-built with Carpenter Racing and Hot Rod Conspiracy. It’s over 25 feet long, 2 feet wide, and 3 feet tall. Output? Try 1,000 horsepower at 9,000 rpm, by way of two (destroked) 1.5-liter Rocket III engines, each methanol-fed and turbocharged. Triumph will run the bike in Bonneville's “Division C,” designated for streamlined motorcycles, though it may end up needing a sidecar to accommodate Martin’s cajones.
