Mobitec team cracks 200mph to break electric land speed world record

An electric-powered motorbike has exceeded 200mph for the first time to officially secure an FIM Land Speed World Record during the annual Bonneville Motorcycle Speed Trials held at the Bonneville Salt Flats in Utah.

The Mobitec team has spent five years attempting to both break the existing record of 181.608mph – set in 2011 by Chip Yates – and also break the 200mph barrier. 

At this year’s event though, Mobitec went comfortably beyond both markers with Japanese rider Ryuhji Tsurata turning in a 204.629mph effort, before following it up with the necessary second run of 204.484mph needed to ratify it as an official FIM-endorsed Land Speed World Record. 

The road to success hasn’t been an easy one for the Nagoya-based, Japanese-led Mobitec team. The project has taken five years to reach this record-breaking point and comes a year after its original rider Kaz Mazutani crashed at the 2018 Bonneville Motorcycle Speed Trials whilst attempting to complete this very feat.

Crashing at 184mph, Mizutani survived but suffered a wrist injury that he continues to recover from and which prevented him from resuming the record bid. Despite this, he was part of the team to cheer Tsurata on to World Record success. 

Under these conditions in the Category 1 – Group A1 – Division A – Type VII, the two-wheel motorbike must be powered by electricity (or solar), have no streamlining features and the rider must be visible. This entry sits in the 300kg+ weight category.

Watch the Mobitec team’s reaction to the news they are now official World Record holders.

(Image credit: Jean Turner/FIM)