Guy Martin targets land speed record

Guy Martin will make a pilgrimage to the world-famous Bonneville Salt Flats at the end of August to launch a bid on the motorcycle land speed record, in a streamliner Triumph – in an attempt to bring the speed record back to the British firm – and the UK – after an absence of 45 years.

The challenge will be filmed for a new Channel 4 documentary, continuing the success of ‘Speed with Guy Martin‘, which comprised two incredibly popular previous series, as well as the ‘Our Guy in India’ special, and ‘Guy Martin’s Spitfire‘. 

While the current record stands at 376.363 mph, the Triumph team is aiming to surpass that over the measured mile.

Triumph have a long legacy of smashing the land speed record and held the title of ‘World’s Fastest Motorcycle’ from 1955 to 1970 with the exception of a brief 33 day period. The record-breaking Triumph Streamliners which included: Devil’s Arrow, Texas Cee-gar, Dudek Streamliner and Gyronaut X1, the former achieving a top speed of 245.667 mph (395.28 km/h). Today’s bar, held by Rocky Robinson since 2010 riding the Top Oil-Ack Attack streamliner, sits at 376.363 mph (605.697 km/h).

The 2015 Triumph Rocket Streamliner features a carbon Kevlar monocoque construction with two turbocharged Triumph Rocket III engines producing a combined 1000bhp at 9000 rpm. The motorcycle is 25.5 feet long, 2 feet wide and 3 feet tall. Powered by methanol fuel, the bike will compete in the Division C (streamlined motorcycle) category.

The iconic Bonneville name was conceived following Johnny Allen’s land-speed record runs at the Salt Flats in September 1955, when he reached the record breaking speed of 193.72 mph. The first T120 Bonneville model was unveiled at the Earls Court Bike Show and went on sale in 1959.

With final testing scheduled at the Bonneville Salt Flats in mid-July, Triumph and Guy Martin will attemnpt to make history and retake the record from 23-27 August 2015.