Hurricane conditions bring significant rain to Utah’s famous Bonneville Salt Flats, ruining race week for land speed competitors.
The 2023 Bonneville Motorcycle Speed Trials (BMST), an FIM Land Speed World Records event, has been cancelled for the second year in a row. Conditions were looking promising for the annual motorcycle-only competition, but rains brought in by Hurricane Hilary have left the racing surface soaked through, spoiling the hard finish the salt flats need to support motorcycle racing.
“This is an utter disappointment to the motorcycle land speed racing community, as well as the FIM,” commented FIM Land Speed World Records Technical Director Dominique Hébrard. “Many of us had planned to travel back from the 2023 Bolivia Speed Trials all the way from the Salar de Uyuni in order to be at the Bonneville Salt Flats for BMST, but we are very sorry to hear that the weather has made it impossible to run this event.”
Bonneville Motorcycle Speed Trials Promoter Delvene Reber did everything possible to put on a world-class event, but with even more inclement weather on the way, it was determined that the track location and alternatives could not support a safe competition.
“After the 2022 cancellation, we were looking forward to an exceptional race surface,” said Delvene Reber. “It is surprising and heart wrenching to be cancelling due to the impacts from Hurricane Hilary. We know that everyone wants an exceptional experience and we are looking forward to next year when we can bring world class motorcycle land speed racing back to the Bonneville Salt Flats.”
According to Reber, BMST competitors will be contacted with further information regarding race entries. Additional updates will be posted on BonnevilleMST.com.
FIM Communications