Salt from the famous Bonneville Flats on the Castrol Rocket tire
ATLANTA – Once proclaimed the king of the Bonneville Salt Flats, Triumph Motorcycles is back at work on its latest innovation, this time with the world’s most technologically-advanced streamlined motorcycle – the Hot Rod Conspiracy/Carpenter Racing Castrol Rocket.
The Castrol Rocket is unique in that it’s a 1,000-horsepower motorcycle built like a fighter jet. The project underwent its first testing in August 2013 at the famed Bonneville Salt Flatsin northwestern Utah with the goal of an eventual 400-mph-plus record-breaking run. The current American Motorcyclist Association (AMA) and Fédération Internationale de Motocyclisme (FIM) motorcycle land speed record is 376.156 mph, set in 2010, by Rocky Robinson with the Ack Attack streamliner.
“Castrol has been actively involved with land speed racing on multiple platforms across the globe since competitors started running at the Bonneville Salt Flats in 1914,” said Rob Corini, Brand Manager, Castrol Motorcycle and Powersports Products. “The Castrol Rocket personifies our heritage as a performance brand, with an incredible balance of power and aerodynamics, and is capable of amazing speeds. It’s the ultimate symbol of performance.”
A shared passion for land speed racing brought aerodynamic engineer Matt Markstaller, engine builder Bob Carpenter and Daytona 200 winner Jason DiSalvo together. The cross-country team – from Oregon, New Jersey and Alabama respectively – quickly discovered a shared interest to create and race the world’s fastest motorcycle. The Castrol Rocket is their labor of love – an homage to the high-
Jason DiSalvo is set to attempt to capture the land speed record on the Rocket
performance heritage of Castrol and Triumph.
“Land speed racing is the purest form of motorsport. It’s about bringing all of your ingenuity, resources and determination together for a constant battle against the elements,” said pilot Jason DiSalvo. “The salt surface has little traction. The wind pushes against you from every side. But what’s really special about Bonneville Land Speed Racing is the people. The conditions are so challenging that for the past 100 years, racers with little else in common have banded together to support and encourage each other to become the world’s fastest.”
The Triumph name has been synonymous with speed since its four record-breaking motorcycle records with Devil’s Arrow, Texas Cee-gar, Dudek/Johnson and Gyronaut X1. From 1955 to 1970, with the exception of a brief 33-day period, Triumph was “The World’s Fastest Motorcycle.” The Castrol Rocket aims to restore that title.
“This project is a celebration of Castrol and Triumph’s motorsports heritage, innovation, courage and perseverance,” said Greg Heichelbech, President and CEO, Triumph Motorcycles North America. “It’s
an incredible opportunity to simultaneously chase history and celebrate our heritage. Our hats are off to the Hot Rod Conspiracy/Carpenter Racing team and all of the racers who make land speed racing such a colorful and meaningful sport.
“Developing a streamliner is a process and a multi-year commitment,” said Heichelbech. “Last year we showed up at Bonneville with a hand built motorcycle that had never been run, and we left with a race bike. Since those inaugural teething runs last summer, we’ve continued development work on the entire motorcycle, including engine development and dyno testing and tuning. We’re excited to see what this year brings.”
CASTROL ROCKET SPECS:
- Chassis: Carbon Kevlar monocoque
- Dimensions: 25’ x 2’ x 3’
- Engines: Two Triumph Rocket III engines
- Horsepower: 1,000-plus-horsepower at 9,000 rpm
- Torque: 500-plus lbs. combined
- Suspension: Custom made by Hot Rod Conspiracy
- Fuel: Methanol
- Tires: Goodyear Land Speed Special
- Engine Lubricant: Castrol Power RS™ 4T 10W-40 full synthetic oil
For more information on the Castrol Rocket, please visit castrolrocket.com.
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