Racing is officially underway at the 2019 Bonneville Motorcycle Speed Trials (BMST). Sunday, August 25, Day 1 of racing at the Bonneville Salt Flats saw a lot of action with riders doing shake-down runs, but no FIM Land Speed World Records… yet.
The condition of the salt surface has much improved from Speed Week earlier in August (which was very wet due to a rainstorm only days before the meet), but the BMST racecourse is still somewhat wet in places. Racers are hoping to see better conditions as the week wears on, and after a hot and windy afternoon on Day 1, they just might get their wishes granted.
Many racers made runs on Sunday, and multiple riders were able to reach record-breaking speeds for qualifying runs, including Corey Bertelsen of New Zealand. Due to winds picking up in the afternoon, however, Bertelsen was not able to complete a return run for an official record. But confidence is growing among the racers, many of whom completed “shakedown runs” today to check the machinery and prepare for the coming days of the speed trials.
Ralph Hudson made his first pass aboard his Ironwood Racing motorcycle, making a modest pass to check out the course, keeping speeds under 200 mph. Al Lamb, his competitor for the all-time fastest sit-on motorcycle, made a pass today on “Little Red,” his previous partially streamlined turbocharged Honda 1000cc motorcycle, in an effort to check out the course, and to help get Little Red prepared for Erin Okonek to make an attempt for a FIM Land Speed World Record later this week. As for Big Red, Lamb determined that he will wait for better conditions this week.
Hiro Koiso took his supercharged Harley-Davidson for a run in the morning but lost a belt in the attempt. The team quickly made repairs and will be back on the starting line tomorrow. Another Harley-Davidson effort, this one all the way from Japan with rider Hideki Kusunoki, made an impressive pass today for a qualifying time on his first day, but Kusunoki has his sights set even higher than what he achieved in his “practice run,” and is looking to reach 200 mph before the week is out.
For many other teams, such as Ralph Bohnhorst and his unique sidecar streamliner, and Ryuji Tsuruta and the Mobitec electric motorcycle team, their speeds increased throughout the day with multiple passes, but they still have a way to go before hitting their goal speeds.
The day ended with warm winds blowing from the mountains, which competitors hope will strip away surface moisture for an even better racing surface in the morning for more record-breaking speed!
Text and picture by Jean Turner