Guy Martin Pilots Triumph Infor Rocket To 441kmph!

The Triumph Infor Rocket has entered the history books and broken the British motorcycle magnate’s own 46-year-old record, with Guy Martin at its helm. The Isle of Man TT veteran piloted the streamliner to a recorded top speed of 274.2mph (over 441kmph), racing past Triumph’s previous official record of 245.667mph (over 395kmph) and even the unofficial Triumph record of 264mph (nearly 425kmph). Both preceding records were set by Bob Leppan, in the Gyronaut X-1.

Featuring a carbon-Kevlar monocoque construction, the Infor Rocket is powered by two turbocharged engines derived from the Rocket III, which have been reworked by Carpenter Racing. For reference, the Rocket III itself has the biggest engine used in a production motorcycle, a 2.3-litre, 3-cylinder mill producing 148PS of power and 221Nm of torque.

In the racer, though, the combined output stands at 2,970cc with the choice of fuel being methanol. The Infor Rocket takes the numbers game to a different level with a rated power output of over 1,000PS and over 678Nm of torque. The structure is supported by Ohlins TTX35 adjustable shock absorbers, with aptly-named Goodyear ‘Land Speed Special’ tyres connecting it to the ground. 

Measuring 25.5 feet in length, 2 feet in width and 3 feet in height, the bike competes in the Division C (streamlined motorcycle) category. Previous record-breaking Triumph streamliners include the Devil's Arrow, Texas Cee-gar, Dudek Streamliner and, of course, the Gyronaut X1.

Triumph’s association with the mecca of speed isn’t limited to records. The Triumph Bonneville name was conceived following Johnny Allen’s land speed record runs at the Salt Flats in September 1956, when he reached a record breaking speed of 193.72mph (nearly 312kmph). This was followed by the debut of the first-generation Triumph Bonneville T120 in 1959.