Triumph and tragedy for Thompson
Valerie Thompson breaks own record on Aussie salt, but crashes out of outright attempt unscathedAmerican dry-lake racer Valerie Thompson broke her own speed record to become the fastest woman in the world on a motorcycle this week, when she recorded a 328.467mph (528.616km/h) run in her three-litre V4 streamliner at Australia’s Speed Week and World Speed Trials events held at Lake Gairdner from March 17-19.
Aiming to break the outright land-speed record of 376.36mph (605.697km/h) set by the twin Hayabusa-engined ‘Ack Attack’ in Bonneville, Utah, almost eight years ago, Thompson’s plight was hampered by a frighteningly fast crash at over 550km/h on the South Australian salt, from which she remarkably escaped unhurt.
“Our trip to Australia had a wonderful beginning and a rather tragic end,” she wrote on social media. “We set a new record of 328.467mph during the Dry Lake Racers Australia Speed Week event and became a new member in the DLRA’s 200 and 300mph Clubs, [ I’m] only the second person to enter the 300mph Club in Australia.
“Unfortunately, the World Speed Trials led to my wreck at over 344mph (554km/h). Without the superior design and safety features incorporated in the bike, I would not be sending this message now. I want to thank the safety team in Australia who did a superior job assisting me and I can’t wait to return to our favourite dry lakes Down Under.”
She officially became the world’s fastest female motorcycle rider 18 months ago when she reached a speed of 304.263mph (489.663km/h) at the Bonneville Salt Flats in Utah, in September 2016.
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