Small Numbers and Big Records at BMST!

Day three of the Bonneville Motorcycle Speed Trial (BMST), Tuesday, August 28, was truly a day to remember for FIM World Record competitor Pietro Giacomo Zanetti. The Italian rider completed a very long journey toward a dream of making history on the Bonneville Salt Flats by successfully completing two passes aboard his 1963 Mosquito 38B. Beautifully crafted with copper detailing, the “Mosquito Way” proved it has not only the looks, but the speed to command attention. 


Zanetti was overcome with emotion after completing his second run, a blistering charge of 20.7 mph (with a 7-mph tailwind) for a combined speed and new record of 18.6 mph (29.9 km/h). 

Another FIM World Record went to Kerry O’Day today, who piloted a 2003 Kawasaki KLR650 to a new record speed of 127 mph (204 km/h). O’Day bumped up the existing record several miles per hour from 121.678 mph. 

For many FIM World Records racers, their mission has been accomplished. For others, mechanical issues have ended their attempts. For the rest, time is running out on the BMST meet. There is still one full day left to run followed by a half day on Thursday, and teams such as “Black Art Racing” and Al Lamb’s Dallas Honda crew are still working hard to find more speed. 

The Black Art Racing Hayabusa had a strong qualifying pass for a new record in the 1600cc category, but rider Kim Krebs of Australia was unable to back it up with a return pass, and will have to make another attempt tomorrow. Al Lamb’s Honda CBR1000 SP1, piloted by Erin Okonek of Alaska, is making steady progress with speeds approaching 200 mph, but the bike hasn’t been able to pull sixth gear. Okonek believes a gearing change tomorrow will be able to put them over the 200-mph mark… although the record still lies well beyond it at 229 mph.

Unfortunately for Al Lamb, the container carrying his flagship CBR1000 “Big Red” will not arrive in time for the BMST meet. Lamb was jilted in Bolivia when the container did not arrive in time for Cook’s Top Oil Land Speed Shootout on the Salar de Uyuni, and the backup attempt to have it stateside in time for the BMST meet has also failed. 

Takushi Chikakane of Osaka, Japan remains on a mission to take his Super Cub to over 123 mph for a new FIM World Record. Chikakane is confident that the little streamlined Honda has more to give, but he still has work to do to get there. Time will tell if he will put his Super Cub in the record books in 2018. 

Story and Photos by Jean Turner