Jason DiSalvo will head to the Bonneville Salt Flats this week with Mike Cook’s Bonneville Shootout set to begin on Friday. DiSalvo will attempt to break the motorcycle land speed record of 376.363 mph in his Triumph Motorcycles America-backed, twin turbo-charged Triumph Rocket III-powered streamliner.
Developed by Matt Markstaller (Hot Rod Conspiracy) and Bob Carpenter (Carpenter Racing), the Triumph Castrol Rocket is the newest streamliner of the group seeking to break the FIM world land speed record in the motorcycle class.
“There are teams that have been out here attempting to break records for years. It’s very hard because there are so many variables to contend against, but we have an amazing team,” said Markstaller, “We have confidence in the progress we’ve made in this project’s development since we were on the Salt a year ago.”
The current record is held by Ack Attack and pilot Rocky Robinson
“While our streamliner produces enough power from the two Rocket III engines to generate record setting speeds, our endeavor also becomes a battle with the elements,” said Carpenter. “The Salt Flats are an ever-changing environment that can be quite forgiving or absolutely inhospitable, you never know what to expect.”
Operating the 1000-horsepower, twin turbocharged Rocket III engine streamliner requires adaptation, according to DiSalvo.
“Piloting the Triumph Castrol Rocket is a unique and thrilling challenge, but what really stands out is the unbelievable amount of power the machine produces,” said DiSalvo, “It simply defies explanation and belief. I find myself tapping into all the honed skill I have developed in my racing career and learning new ones as we continue to eclipse new speed levels.”
Triumph Motorcycles is no stranger to setting records. The naming of the Bonneville, Triumph’s best-known bike, is in tribute to the company’s accomplishments on the Salt Flats. Triumph held the title of “World’s Fastest Motorcycle” from 1955 to 1970 with the exception of 33 days. Its rich heritage in land speed racing features four record-setting streamliners: Devil’s Arrow (1955 at 193.72 mph), Texas Cee-gar (1956 at 214.17 mph), Dudek Johnson (1962 at 224.57 mph), and Gyronaut X-1 (1966 at 245.66 mph)
“It is all about the journey,” said Matt Sheahan, Chief Operating Officer for Triumph Motorcycles America. “To be back at Bonneville with Castrol and the rest of our team is like returning home. So much of Triumph’s legacy was established right here in Utah by passionate, driven and courageous motorcyclists and engineers that all believe in constantly pushing the envelope. Today we are able to continue that legacy, and it is something we are immensely proud to be a part of, not just for Triumph, but for the entire motorcycling industry.”
