We told you some time ago that the salt was coming good at the famous Bonneville Salt Flats – and we told Triumph too. Now, a month later, the British factory has confirmed that it IS going to take on the land speed record at the hallowed ground in Utah, USA and Guy Martin WILL be piloting the Streamliner!
Here’s what we sent to Triumph last month:
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And here’s what Triumph has just sent us:
Triumph Motorcycles, the iconic British motorcycle brand, has confirmed that it will return to the legendary salt flats of Bonneville, USA, in August 2016 to break the motorcycle world land speed record. Triumph’s aim is to exceed the current record that stands at 376.363 mph, using its purpose built 1,000bhp Triumph Infor Rocket Streamliner.
Riding the purpose-built Triumph Infor Rocket Streamliner over the measured mile will be Isle of Man TT racer and multiple speed record holder Guy Martin. Title partner for Triumph’s 2016 record attempt will be global cloud applications provider Infor with further support from iconic clothing brand Belstaff.
The Triumph Infor Rocket features a carbon Kevlar monocoque construction with two turbocharged Triumph Rocket III engines producing a combined 1,000 bhp at 9,000 rpm. The motorcycle is 25.5 feet long, 2 feet wide and 3 feet tall. Powered by methanol fuel, the bike is competing in the Division C (streamlined motorcycle) category.
Triumph has a history of breaking the land speed record, holding the title of ‘World’s Fastest Motorcycle’ between 1955 to 1970*. The record-breaking Triumph Streamliners 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 record, held by Rocky Robinson since 2010 riding the Top Oil-Ack Attack streamliner, sits at 376.363 mph (605.697 km/h).
Guy Martin commented: “I can’t wait to take the Triumph Infor Rocket Streamliner onto the salt at Bonneville for the first time this summer. The Triumph engineers have built an amazing machine, giving us the very best chance to beat the two-wheeled land speed record.”
The iconic Bonneville name was conceived following Johnny Allen’s land-speed record runs at the Salt Flats in September 1956, 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.
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