Ever since the dawn of man, we have strived to go fast. Motorcycle enthusiasts and gear-heads perhaps have this desire slightly more so than the average Joe. A few such men – Matt Markstaller, Bob Carpenter, and Jason DiSalvo – have pulled together a team of people to restore Triumph Motorcycles’ legacy in landspeed racing. Man’s passion has always launched innovation, and these three men have set out to design, build and ride the world’s most advanced streamliner, the Castrol Rocket.
Triumph held the title of “World’s Fastest Motorcycle” from 1955 to 1970 with the exception of a brief 33-day period. The Triumph streamliners to carry world records were Devil’s Arrow, Texas Cee-gar and Gyronaut X1, the last being at 245.60 mph (395.28 km/h). Today’s bar now sits at 376.363 mph (605.697 km/h).
Markstaller serves as aerodynamic engineer; Carpenter is the high-peformance engine builder; and Daytona 200 winner and Bonneville class record holder DiSalvo bravely pilots Triumph’s latest entry. This cross-country team converges on the Bonneville Salt Flats, a 40 square mile salt pan in northwestern Utah, with the goal of a 400 mph plus record-breaking run.
The 2013 edition Castrol Rocket features Carbon Kevlar monocoque construction with two turbocharged Triumph Rocket III engines producing a combined 1,000+ HP. It is 25.5’ long, 2’ wide and 3’ tall, a true rocket on two wheels powered by methanol fuel and filled with Castrol 4T 10W40 full synthetic oil.
Images and copy via the Castrol Rocket website.
