Guy Martin aims to break motorcycle land speed world record

Motorcycle racer Guy Martin will attempt to set a new land speed world record later this week on a purpose-built 400mph bike.

Martin will ride a Triumph streamliner as he tries to break the current motorcycle world record of 376.36mph on Bonneville Salt Flats in Utah, USA.

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

After test rides on the 11-mile-long course, Martin said on his website: "That's the testing week for the Triumph streamliner over and, like I said earlier in the week, it's gone according to plan.

"I got the hang of steering the thing pretty quickly, then it was a case of building up speed.

"Wind is a big thing out here, so it's not a case of just jumping in and twisting the throttle.

"We chipped away and, early on Tuesday morning, we did 274.2mph, making it the fastest-ever Triumph.

"Everyone was dead happy but that's just one step to where we want to be. The current record is 376.36mph, so a way to go yet."

Martin will pilot the Triumph Infor Rocket Streamliner, which was designed by aerodynamic engineer Matt Markstaller.

The motorcycle 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."

Designer Mr Markstaller, from the Hot Rod Conspiracy team, said: "We achieved a great deal during our test week at Bonneville and feel we are in a great position to move ahead with our record attempt.

"Guy settled into the streamliner very quickly and impressed us with the speed in which he mastered both the motorcycle and riding on the salt."

Martin, 34, 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.

Martin will attempt to break this record at the end of the week.