US landspeed record on a public road

American Ken Merena is gearing up to try and break a land speed record on his 1999 Suzuki Hayabusa – and authorities are helping him by closing off a motorway in Utah.

   Merena had a test run recently where his turbocharged Hayabusa cruised past 200mph as he tested out the bike before a proper run scheduled for next March.

   The current record for an open cockpit (non-streamliner) was set at 259mph by John Noonan last year – but he used the salt flats near Salt Lake city.

   Merena said: “Riding at 260mph on Highway 89 is a really big adrenaline rush because at that speed the two-lane road seems very narrow.

   “Using the salt flats would be easier but keeping to the highway makes things more interesting.”

   Merena managed 12 runs in one day and is now keen to see what he can do in December 2006.

   Local resident Heather Alexander said: “This road doesn’t get much traffic on a Sunday but my kids loved watching it.”