Guy Martin crashes during land speed record bid
Road racer ‘completely uninjured’ but further runs postponed
GUY Martin has crashed without injury while attempting to become the fastest person ever on two wheels.
The road racer and TV personality had put in a good run over the first mile of the attempt at the Bonneville Salt flats in Utah, USA, when a damp patch caused the rear of the machine to lose traction and step out of line.
As a result the streamliner – powered by two Triumph Rocket III engines making a combined 1,000bhp – went down on the course.
Martin was ‘completely uninjured’ in yesterday’s crash but the streamliner, called the Triumph Infor Rocket, must undergo a full inspection before further runs can take place, according to Triumph.
Martin, who has just published a new book called Worms to Catch, was attempting to break the existing record of 376.63mph
He said: “It’s all part of the job boy, isn’t it? Feeling our way. I guess if it was an easy thing to do everyone would have done it by now. So we’ll get a plan sorted and get on with the next go at it as soon as we get the chance.”
Triumph Infor Rocket designer Matt Markstaller said: “It’s one of the challenges of land speed racing - the salt surface can be so unpredictable. We’ll fully inspect the streamliner and get ready for the next phase of our attempt.”