TT racer and television personality Guy Martin is setting his sights on bringing a new land speed record back to Britain later this year.
Guy, who joined the 132mph elite during this year’s Senior TT in which he finished fourth, will be the man at the helm of a purpose-built two-wheeler powered by two 2.3 litre triple engines, more commonly seen in the Triumph Rocket III motorcycle.
The bike is fully enclosed for streamlining and the rider adopts a feet-forward riding position and it is hoped the bike will achieve 400mph, beating the previous record of 376mph set in 2010 using a Suzuki Hayabusa engine.
Guy told online bike magazine Visordown.com: ‘The phone went about a month ago and I was asked if I fancied trying to become the fastest man on two wheels.
‘Breaking the world land speed record isn’t normally the sort of thing you get offered in your tea break is it? Bringing the record back to Britain would be mega too.’
The record attempt will take place at the famous Bonneville salt flats in the USA August, provided weather and surface conditions are favourable. Last August’s Speed Week event had to be cancelled after organisers decided there was too much standing water which had not drained away following torrential rain. Final assessments are still to be made this year on the quality of the surface before the event goes ahead.
When it was launched in 2004, the Triumph Rocket III was said to be the largest capacity production motorcycle with faster acceleration than the Yamaha R1 up to 100mph and a top speed of 140mph.
The version to be used for the world land speed record attempt will be modified, turbo-charged and run on methanol, producing 1,000 brake horsepower. Triumph held the motorcycle speed record between 1955 and 1970 and possibly its most famous model, the Bonneville, was named in recognition of its achievements at the Utah salt flats.
Speed runs at Bonneville are measured as an average over two runs completed within an hour of one another. Guy’s attempt is to be filmed for a programme scheduled for broadcast on Channel 4 in September.