New Motorcycle Land Speed Record Set

The Top 1 Oil-sponsored team set the record on Sept. 26 at 8:58 MST. Witnessed by an official of the Federation Internationale de Motocyclisme (FIM), and now subject to ratification, the new world record of 360.913 mph will also be eligible for the Guinness Book of World Records. It tops the previous 350.884 mph record set by Denis Manning and Chris Carr in 2006.

Ack Attacks world record run highlighted the first annual Top 1 Oil World Land Speed Shootout, which took place Sept. 22-26 at the famous Bonneville Salt Flats in Bonneville, Utah. The Top 1 Ack Attack team, Team Kuryakyn, and Team E-Z Hook took to the salt on Sept. 22, to begin competing for the title of world's fastest motorcycle. Throughout the meet Sam Wheeler's E-Z Hook and Mike Akatiff's Top 1 Ack Attack streamliners came close to setting a new record numerous times, but it wasn't until the morning of Sept. 26 that the Top 1 Ack Attack team was able reach top speeds in consecutive runs and earn the new absolute motorcycle land speed record.

What a fantastic conclusion to a great week of racing, says Mike Akatiff, designer and owner of the Top 1 Oil Ack Attack. We struggled on occasion early in the week, came close to breaking the record several times, and then all the elements aligned Friday morning.

With salt and climate conditions excellent and the 900-hp ACK Attack tuned up, driver Rocky Robinson piloted the streamliner into the history books.

The Top 1 Ack Attack team was the first to break the 16-year Easy Rider record by going 342mph in 2006. Two days later Denis Manning and Chris Carr broke their record. The new world record is expected to be ratified by Bonneville Nationals, Inc. and the Southern California Timing Association, as well as the FIM.

Charles Hennekam, the official on-site FIM observer, said:

We are thrilled about this incredible new world record, set just two years after the current milestone was set - that's an historic achievement indeed, says Charles Hennekam, the official on-site FIM observer. On behalf of FIM, I congratulate Mike, Rocky and the team on success, along with all the other world record breaking teams this week. Land speed racing requires enormous resources and technical sophistication, passion and above all perseverance. Given the dedication of land speed racing professionals, we expect to see even more competitors return to Bonneville in 2009 to challenge ACK Attack's title.

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