Triumph confirms land speed record attempt

Triumph Motorcycles has confirmed its intention to break the motorcycle land speed record at the salt flats of Bonneville, USA, in August this year. While the current record stands at 376.363mph (605.697km/h), the Triumph team is aiming to surpass that over the measured mile.

Piloting the purpose built, 1000bhp Triumph Rocket Streamliner will be Isle of Man TT racer, truck mechanic and TV presenter Guy Martin. Well known for his love of speed, Guy is relishing the prospect of bringing the land speed record back to Triumph, and the UK, after an absence of 45 years.

Triumph has 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 of that period were Devil's Arrow, Texas Cee-gar, Dudek Streamliner and Gyronaut X1, the former achieving a top speed of 245.667mph (395.28km/h). Today's bar, held by Rocky Robinson since 2010 riding the Top Oil-Ack Attack streamliner, sits at 376.363 mph (605.697km/h).

The 2015 Triumph Rocket Streamliner features a carbon Kevlar monocoque construction with two turbocharged Triumph Rocket III engines producing a combined 1000bhp at 9000rpm. The motorcycle is 25.5ft long, 2ft wide and 3ft tall. Powered by methanol fuel, the bike is competing 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 193.72mph. 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, the record attempt will take place 24-27 August, 2015.

To follow the progress of the world land speed record attempt, please visit http://www.triumph.co.uk and www.guymartinracing.co.uk.