In the vast white expanse of the Bonneville Salt Flats, the 2024 Bonneville Motorcycle Speed Trials once again became a playground for racers, record-chasers, and speed hounds alike.
This year, a remarkable ten FIM world records were claimed, spanning seven displacement categories, with teams and riders pushing machines to their limits.
The 2024 Bonneville Motorcycle Speed Trials Pushed the Limits
Among them, the Buckeye Current team from Ohio State University blazed new trails with their electric Voxan RW-5, setting electric motorcycle records for both fairing and non-fairing categories. The streamlined RW-5 recorded an impressive 180.035 mph over a mile, proving that electric bikes have their own slice of glory in the speed trials.
Buckeye’s electric racer, powered by a hefty 5607-volt lithium-ion battery and driven by a 130kW motor, faced typical salt flat challenges: at one point, a motor replacement mid-race.
But such hurdles are part of Bonneville’s legacy. Alongside these modern marvels, the Haynes-Varese Racing Team, with a trio of vintage classics (in the lead image), secured three AMA records, underscoring the timeless appeal of vintage speed.
In all, the event saw 52 new AMA records set across categories ranging from 50cc Hondas to turbocharged Hayabusas. And for those craving the salt’s siren call, next August promises another shot at the legendary flats. Learn more at the Bonneville Motorcycle Speed Trials’s website.
Source: Ultimate Motorcycling
