Guy Martin completes speed record test run

Guy Martin is strapped into the Triumph Infor Rocket Streamliner on track at the Bonneville speedway as he prepares for a test run before challenging for the world land speed record in Utah, USA. Pic: Chris Radburn/PA Wire

Martin, 34, from Grimsby, North East Lincolnshire, rode the Triumph Infor Rocket Streamliner at 198mph across seven miles of the course at Bonneville Salt Flats in Utah, USA.

It is hoped that he will attempt to break the two-wheeled world land speed record of 376.36mph later on Saturday.

A Triumph spokesman said: “Guy just did a steady run just to get used to the bike again, which he has not ridden since August.”

Martin and the Triumph team have been in Utah throughout the week in preparation for the attempt, which has faced a number of problems.

On Thursday, all runs were postponed due to safety concerns about the wet course but the team were hopeful the bike would be taken out on to the course on Friday.

But on Friday, the course was closed to motorcycles after Martin’s vehicle passed over a rut in the track and tipped over as it was being towed to the start line.

However, Saturday saw the bike on the track for the first time this week.

Regulations require Martin to ride the motorcycle at 300mph before being allowed to attempt to break the world record.

During practice sessions over the summer, the bike became the fastest to be built by Triumph as the TT star achieved a speed of 274.2mph.

It features a carbon Kevlar monocoque construction - in which the chassis is integral with the body - with two turbo-charged Triumph Rocket III engines producing a combined 1,000 brake horsepower (bhp) at 9,000 revs per minute (rpm).

The bike is 25.5ft long, 2ft wide and 3ft tall and is powered by methanol fuel.

Martin said: “The Triumph engineers have built an amazing machine, giving us the very best chance to beat the two-wheeled land speed record.”

Martin has set speed records in a variety of human and engine-powered vehicles, including world records for fastest speed on a gravity-powered snow sled, fastest speed in a soap box and highest speed on a wall of death, which he set earlier this year.

The current motorcycle land speed world record was set by Rocky Robinson in 2010, riding the Top Oil-Ack Attack Streamliner at 376.36mph.