FIM World Records have officially come to South Australia’s Lake Gairdner! Two new world-record speeds were achieved on day two of the World Speed Trials Australia by riders Steve Kell and Greg Watters in their respective classes, also marking the first FIM World Records (pending ratification by the FIM) set in Australia.
It was another windy day on the salt on Sunday, 18 March, with a steady breeze running up the course, at times surpassing the maximum wind component allowed by FIM rules (17.6 km/h, 11 mph). But racers sat poised at the start, ready to take advantage of breaks in wind to make their runs, and their patience paid off.
“Today started with iffy conditions due to the wind,” said Steve Kell. “Patience was required, which we all have done as competitors. It’s been touch-and-go all day, but within the small windows that cropped up, we were able to make a good run. It was a wild ride coming back; it wasn’t pretty, but we got there.”
Kell reached a speed of 250.148 km/h (155.435 mph) for a new record in the non-streamlined, naturally aspirated 750cc class (I.A1.A I.3+ 750cc). The Queensland native was nearly the first to set a world record at Lake Gairdner, but barely missed out on the distinction to Watters.
“Greg Watters beat me by about 20 minutes,” Kell said with a laugh.
Watters broke ground with the first world-record performance in Australia, his coming in the non-streamlined, forced induction 1600cc class (I.A1.A II.3+ 1600cc). Watters took his turbo-charged Suzuki Hayabusa to an average speed of 337.231 km/h (209.545 mph).
“We went down 216 (mph) and returned 203,” said Watters. “It’s not making all the power it should be; I got a boost-controller problem. But it will be a world record (pending FIM ratification).”
Runs were also completed by other competitors such as Ben Felten, the totally blind competitor riding with the assistance of former GP racer Kevin Magee. Felten and Magee made multiple runs on the course aboard their Kawasaki ZX-10R motorcycles, allowing the duo to get a feel for the course and fine-tune their coordination. Like several others, Felten plans to make his world-record attempt tomorrow—Monday 19 March, the third and final day of the World Speed Trials Australia—when weather conditions are expected to be optimum.
As for Valerie Thompson and the Team 7 Racing streamliner, which is far more sensitive to the wind due to its size and speed, they also plan to make their grand attempt tomorrow. The track conditions are nearly perfect, with a smooth, solid 12-mile track, but all they need now is still air to complete an aggressive run.
FIM Communications