Colombo sets water speed record
Italian daredevil hits record-breaking 104km/h on Lake Como aboard Honda CRF450RThe world speed record for a motorcycle on water previously set by Australia's Robbie Maddison has been broken, with Italian rider Luca Colombo hitting 104km/h on a modified Honda CRF450R on Lake Como, northern Italy, on Saturday, July 6.
With Bikesales on location to witness the triumph first hand, the record was broken on the picturesque lake near the town of Gravedona, with Colombo beating Maddison's record of 93.3km/h by over 10km/h.
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Accidental airbag
Colombo broke the record despite a wave accidently triggering his bike's automatic inflation system, the rider then having to look around a gas-filled bag designed to save the motorcycle from sinking if things went wrong.
Fortunately for Colombo, he completed the 1.9-kilometre course without the bike slowing to less than 55.6km/h – he had to maintain at least 50km/h to prevent the bike sinking.
Colombo's Honda CRF450R had been specially prepared for the even by Milan-based off-road Honda specialist, RedMoto, and in addition to the automatic inflation system was fitted with a paddle rear wheel and skis to allow it to plane across the surface of the lake.
The Italian is no stranger to these waterborne motorcycle feats – in 2017 he crossed Lake Como from Gravedona to Colico on its opposite shore on a ski-kitted Suzuki, a 5.5-kilometre run in which he topped out at 83km/h.
Into the unknown
After breaking the record, Colombo said he was thrilled with the achievement.
"I am really satisfied," he said.
"I wanted this record much more than the precedent [in 2017] – it was very hard to reach even one more single km/h and despite all the data and variations in conditions we've recorded over the years, there are still many unknown factors.
"Truth is you never know what's going to happen every time I place my bike on water.
"This year everyone really made a great effort. This record doesn't belong just to me, because without all my supporters this would have been impossible. I thank everyone from the bottom of my heart!"
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