World Championships / Records du Monde de Vitesse

Un deuxième jour pleine de surprises aux BMST

Mark Seeley prepares to stretch the legs on the “Chaparral Special,” a stunning special-construction entry all the way from Texas. © Jean Turner Mark Seeley prepares to stretch the legs on the “Chaparral Special,” a stunning special-construction entry all the way from Texas. © Jean Turner
Intermittent wind caused a fair amount of hold-ups throughout the day, but didn’t stop racers from claiming four more FIM World Records. © Jean Turner Intermittent wind caused a fair amount of hold-ups throughout the day, but didn’t stop racers from claiming four more FIM World Records. © Jean Turner
The waiting is the hardest part… Mark Seeley anxiously awaits the green flag at mile zero. © Jean Turner The waiting is the hardest part… Mark Seeley anxiously awaits the green flag at mile zero. © Jean Turner
Kaz Mizutani heads out for his ill-fated run aboard the Mobitec electric motorcycle. Mizutani would come off at 184 mph only minutes later, fortunately with only minor injuries. © Jean Turner Kaz Mizutani heads out for his ill-fated run aboard the Mobitec electric motorcycle. Mizutani would come off at 184 mph only minutes later, fortunately with only minor injuries. © Jean Turner
Jay Allen claimed his second FIM World Record in as many days, this time aboard his “Poor Man’s Turbo” Harley-Davidson. © Jean Turner Jay Allen claimed his second FIM World Record in as many days, this time aboard his “Poor Man’s Turbo” Harley-Davidson. © Jean Turner
Pietro Zanetti was happy to head to impound after a run aboard his beautiful copper-trimmed 50cc 1963 Mosquito moped. © Jean Turner Pietro Zanetti was happy to head to impound after a run aboard his beautiful copper-trimmed 50cc 1963 Mosquito moped. © Jean Turner
Ralph Bohnhorst took his brand new sidecar streamliner “Aurelija” for its first spin on the salt yesterday, but the team packed it up today after discovering a mechanical issue in the engine. © Jean Turner Ralph Bohnhorst took his brand new sidecar streamliner “Aurelija” for its first spin on the salt yesterday, but the team packed it up today after discovering a mechanical issue in the engine. © Jean Turner
Kaz Mizutani was a little banged up after his crash at 184 mph, but the Japanese rider gives the thumbs up. © Jean Turner Kaz Mizutani was a little banged up after his crash at 184 mph, but the Japanese rider gives the thumbs up. © Jean Turner
Previous Next

Malgré un vent capricieux, l'excellent sel aux Bonneville Motorcycle Speed Trials (BMST) a permis à de battre quatre records FIM de vitesse, lundi sur le lac de l'Utah (États-Unis). 

Ralph Bohnhorst, ancien commissaire du Grand Prix d'Allemagne MotoGP, n'a pas atteint les 483 km/h avec un projet de side-car sur lequel il travaille depuis cinq ans. Objectif envolé après le premier run, qui s'est terminé sur une casse moteur. 

Lundi, c'était aussi le bout de la route pour Hirohisa Koiso. Le pilote du Nevada voulait poursuivre après son record établi hier, 223.195 mph (359,197 km/h), mais sa V-twin Harley-Davidson a elle aussi été victime d'une casse. 

Kazutoshi Mizutani (Motibec EV-02 100% électrique) a échoué dans sa catégorie (184 mph contre un record à 196,420. Mizutani a chuté et ne souffre que de blessures mineures. Les BMST sont déjà finis pour l'équipe venue du Japon. 

Même déception pou Pietro Zanetti (50cc, sur un Mosquito 38 B 1963). Il est en piste à nouveau mardi.

Cayla Rivas et Stephen Garn, eux, ont amélioré leur record. Rivas (Royal Enfield, 650 Twin) a roulé à 139 mph de moyenne sur ses deux runs (224 km/h). 

Jay Allen a décroché un nouveau record, menant sa “Poor-man’s Turbo” Harley-Davidson Dyna à 191.8-mph (308,6 km/h). Garn a porté sa Yamaha 1974  RD350 à 116 mph (187 km/h), battant lui aussi son propre record. 

Les prévisions pour demain, températures moyennes et moins de vent, sont très prometteuses. 

Texte et Photos : Jean Turner