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.”