According to the preliminary results of the competition at the 2024 Bonneville Motorcycle Speed Trials (BMST) for the FIM (Fédération Internationale de Motocyclisme) World Land Speed Records and AMA (American Motorcyclist Association) National Land Speed Grand Championship records have been posted. Ten FIM world records were set in seven displacement categories by nine different drivers. New world records included marks set by the student-led Buckeye Current team from Ohio State University’s Center for Automotive Research.
Running the partially streamlined electric-powered Voxan RW-5 in the APSΩ class, they set the fastest average speed record for an electric bike running with a fairing over the measured mile at 180.035 mph, and the measured kilometer at 180.065 mph. They also set the new world record for an electric bike running without a fairing for a measured mile at 168.59 mph and measured kilometer at 168.71 mph.
Electric-powered motorcycle classes are determined by weight rather than engine or battery power. The Voxan RW-5 weighs 148 kilos, so it ran in the class for bikes weighing between 100 and 150 kilos. Other categories include 150 to 300 kilos and Unlimited for machines over 300 kilograms.
The Voxan RW-5’s Beyond AXM2 Axial Flux motor delivers 130kW (174 bhp). The power comes from a 5607-volt lithium-ion battery. The Buckeye Current team went through an experience so many salt racing teams go through—burning the midnight oil to replace a burned-out motor on their way to the record books.
There were 52 new AMA National motorcycle land speed records set in 12 displacement categories, including the records set by the Ohio State team that qualified for FIM record status.
The new records ranged from 66.682 mph in the 50cc APS/BG class by Takushi Chikakane (Super Minimum Challenge) on a Honda to 217.174 mph in the 1350cc MPS/AG class by Ralph Bohnhorst (Haenni Racing) in a fully streamlined, turbocharged Hayabusa-powered sidecar rig named Aurelija.
Land speed racing with vintage motorcycles is always great fun to watch and is a special challenge to participate in. At the 2024 BMST, the Houston-based Haynes-Varese Racing Team made the scene with three vintage bikes prepped for competition that saw two of the bikes—a 1955 Triumph T110 Tiger and a 1968 Aermacchi Harley-Davidson—set three AMA national records.
For the complete listing of FIM and AMA preliminary results from the 2024 BMST, including the individual run logs, go to the Bonneville Motorcycle Speed Trials website. All the results are pending certification by each sanctioning body.
For those interested in competing or spectating, next year’s Bonneville Motorcycle Speed Trials event with dual sanctions—AMA Land Speed Grand Championship and FIM Land Speed World Records—will be held August 23-28.
