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MV Agusta LSR Team Breaks Record at Bonneville 2007
MV Agusta F4 1000-312R:
193.456MPH – 311.335 KPH
From Cagiva USA:
We are pleased to announce that MV Agusta has returned to Bonneville Speedweek (August 11th-17th 2007) to defend our 1000cc PP (Production Engine / Production Frame) Motorcycle World Land Speed Record set last year on the 2007 MV Agusta F4-1000R @ 185.882 MPH.
Last year's inaugural effort was a collaboration with TT Motorcycles, Fast by Ferracci, and Gary Kohs of Fine Art Models, with assistance from Cagiva USA as well as MV Agusta Italy.
This year; MV Agusta Italy, Cagiva USA, and Fast by Ferracci are supporting Gary Kohs and his Fine Art Models MV Agusta Land Speed Racing (LSR) effort consisting of a 2008 MV Agusta F4-312R in the 1000cc PP class, and last year's 2007 record setting F4-1000R which has been converted to run in the 'Modified Class'.
Below, please find a day by day update from leading up to last evening. More updates and photos to follow.
Cagiva USA is particularly excited to support the MV Agusta LSR effort as it clearly translates the incredible performance of our motorcycles and the ceaseless efforts of our parent company to constantly improve our already exceptional products. Much credit and much respect must be given to Rosey, Gary, and the rest of the MV Agusta LSR team for their overwhelming enthusiasm and professional approach to their efforts. Thus far, the results speak for themselves as everyone can easily relate to the concept of "The Fastest Production 1000cc Motorcycle in the World".
Here's to the continued success of the team and their unparalleled efforts as well as to the ongoing growth and success of MV Agusta Worldwide!
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DAY 1
It was a long day today, but we are ready to go racing tomorrow with two MV Agusta motorcycles. One is our record setting bike from last year (MV F41000R) and our new bike (F4 312 R ).
When we arrived we had to drive across the salt in about twelve inches of water. They have had a great deal of rain and the course was flooded. But with temperatures of 100+ F degrees and winds of up to 30mph, the course is drying out and there will be one long course (13 miles) and one short course (7 miles).
There is a prediction of possible rain next Wednesday which could cancel the remaining days of the event so we are not taking any chances. We will put Rosey on both bikes with the objective of qualifying both bikes tomorrow for land speed records. The F41000R will run in the modified 1000cc class and must go 192+ mph to break the record. If he does then he’ll do his second run on Sunday morning. The F4 312 R will be in the 1000cc production class and we must run 186+ mph to break our record from last year. We feel VERY confident of getting both records. If we achieve this then I will ride on Monday and Tuesday with the objective of raising the production record with the F4 312 R even further and Rosey will go back to the F41000R where we will take the fairing off and try to set the record for a partially faired bike of 186mph.
We had to take our crew chief to the hospital today due to dehydration and high blood pressure. He’s ok tonight, but will not see action tomorrow.
Our Mercedes Sprinter Van broke down and won’t be fixed until next Tuesday. We have had a few problems to say the least, but we are ready!
The two photographers and writer from the Detroit Free Press couldn’t be happier. They are putting their stories together and have all the help they have asked for from the organizing body.
This is not just a racing story, but a story about passion. The passion of the people who build MV Agusta motorcycles and the people who ride them. Rosey Lackey who is riding our bikes is a modern day legend. He is 70 years old and will be going for five land speed records on motorcycles in the coming days. This is a story that will live for years and years to come….
So watch for our update tomorrow and I hope to have good news.
Gary
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DAY 2
Day 2 began with the validation that everything we had done to the bikes to make them faster has in fact made them faster. Good news all day long!!
We took the 2007 F4 1000 R record bike and ran it in the modified 1000cc class. All we did was change the exhaust system. The record was 191mph and we were able to run 189mph. The problem was that we ran out of power and still had 1200 unused rpm. We had missed the record by 2mph! So we took the bike to the end of the line and set out to change the gearing while at the same time moving up the line to run again.
While this was being done we took the new F4 312 R and as it is a new bike it was required to run the short course (3 miles) in order to run 175+ mph to qualify for the long course (7 miles). We were sure we’d get the 175mph, but we never dreamed we’d break last year’s record on the short course with just a qualifying run. Well this is exactly what we did! Last year’s record was 185.882 mph and Rosey ran 186.972 through the 3rd mile with the bike still accelerating. The only question is how much faster could it go on the long course? The bike was taken back to impound where it is kept over night and tomorrow morning at 7AM Rosey will attempt his second run to formally set the record…and all this on the short course!
Now our plan is to hopefully set the new record and then ask the officials to seal the engine and let us take the bike to the long course with the intention of breaking the record we just set. We’ll know tomorrow if this will work after the 7AM run.
We went back to the course and ran the F4 1000 R with the new gearing and still ran 189mph. But It was the worst time to the day to run with the temperature 100+ degrees and the track very lose. We are confident that we can get the 2 mph tomorrow morning after our record run. All we have done to this bike is put an open exhaust system on it. If we get the 2 mph then we’ll have two records in two days. And we have a backup plan for this if for some reason we can’t find the 2 mph. To give you a hint…..if the new F4 312 R can run faster that 192 mph in the 1000cc production class then perhaps we’ll enter it in the modified class without changing anything on the bike and set a modified record with a production bike. Thus, the F4 312 R could become the fastest production 1000cc bike on earth and also the fastest “modified 1000cc” without changing anything. This could be one of the greatest marketing programs ever put together for a motorcycle.
So tomorrow will be a good one! Up at 5:00AM and on the salt before 6:00AM.
Stay tuned…..
Gary
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DAY 3
WORLD LAND SPEED RECORD
MV AGUSTA F41000-312R
187.674 MPH – 302.032 KPH
Day 3 was a good day. We arrived at impound at 7:00AM to find the a factory Suzuki 1000cc bike had also qualified for the record so it would be a shoot out between the two of us. He was on the long course and we had to run the short course again as this is what the rules state. We won!
It was then back to impound to have the displacement of the engine and fuel checked to make sure the bike met the rules. Well….we had an anxious moment when it was discovered that the engine may have been more than 1000cc. Because the engine was so precise the tech inspection people could not get a precise reading and it appeared that the engine might be 1000.015cc. After three hours of measuring the bore and stroke they were able to get a precise reading….exactly 1000cc. They had never seen an engine so precise.
Due to high winds more than half the racing day was canceled. This gave us time to plan our next move so we got both bikes ready and moved back into line. Late in the afternoon the day was canceled, but not before we had move to the front of the line that will allow us to run first thing in the morning….the best time of the day to run.
So tomorrow we put our record holder on the long course with the intention of breaking the record we set today. The reason for this is that we have a great deal of competition and Suzuki is not going away. But now we have a level playing field as we are both on the long course and we will both run within thirty minutes of each other. We feel good about what the 312 will do with seven miles to play with.
The F4 1000 R will run for the 1000cc modified record as soon as the 312 is done. We could end up with two more records tomorrow. We feel VERY confident of breaking today’s record.
Needless to say, we have made quite an impression at Bonneville! And since the employees at MV Agusta all signed the fairing on the bike at the factory, they too now share in this record. What great fun it is when everything is going our way.
Stay tuned for Day 4…..it just could be better than today as hard as this is to believe! A new bike, two runs, a world record. One can’t do better than this….except do better the next day and this is our intention.
Gary
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DAY 4
Today was one to remember! Drama is the only word I can use to express the events that took place. We arrived on the salt at 6:00AM all ready to do our first run at 7:00AM. Our competition the Suzuki was going to be first to run, but he was on course #2 and we were on #1. Our first run with the 312 was a bit disappointing as we were not able to break our present record. Then we ran the R bike and missed the record by 1.5 mph. This was not fun.
On our way back to the end of the line I went to see what the Suzuki had done. Well……this was a shock as he was in impound. He had broken our record with the fastest recorded speed at the 4 mile market of 190.4 MPH. Our record was 187.674 mph. He would now run tomorrow to see if he could back up this record and then have an average speed higher than our record. He had run in the early morning when it is best to run and now we faced going to the line shortly after noon when the temperature was 100+ degrees.
Needless to say there wasn’t much being said on our team, but everyone was focused. We discussed the issues and made some changes to the bike including a new Pirelli rear tire, lower tire pressure and more. We were hoping that this would get us qualified to run against our record and the Suzuki tomorrow morning. By the time we got to the line the temperature was 109 degrees, but there was no wind. We chose course 2 this time as we figured we had nothing to lose. And yes, we were all very nervous.
Rosey got on the bike and turned the following speeds: 1st mile 188mph, 2nd mile 191mph, 3rd mile 195mph, 4th mile 195 mph and 5th mile 194 mph. Needless to say we were speechless, but very very happy. The bike is called an F4 312 because it is supposed to go 312kph. Rosey had just gone 314.678 kph. So now we go back tomorrow morning at 5AM and back up our record and of course see our friends from Suzuki.
Competition is a wonderful thing…provided you win!!!! If we can feel good about our record should we get it tomorrow then we will enter the 312 in the 1000cc modified class before the end of the event and set the record using a stock production bike. WOW! What a ride we are having.
You’ll want to read the update tomorrow I can assure you!
Gary
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DAY 5
Day 5 was a good day. It started at 4:30AM as we had to be on the salt at 6:00AM so we could be toward the front of the line to run our back up run for the record. Our competitor Suzuki made every effort to run before us and we welcomed that as this would tell us how hard we’d have to run. To beat us he’d have to go 200mph and we didn’t think with would happen…and it didn’t. His fastest time was 189mph. Rosey then went out and made a safe run of 191.5 mph which gave us the new record:
WORLD LAND SPEED RECORD
PRODUCTION MOTORCYCLE
MV AGUSTA F41000-312R
193.456MPH – 311.335 KPH
Finally we felt we had gone fast enough to hold the record, but we have more speed we haven’t used and we’ll probably save that until Thursday and this Suzuki isn’t going away. We’ve dealt with all our other competition, but this guy is as focused as we are….and he’s using a “heated” up engine against our stock engine.
After this run we prepared the Triumph that belongs to Rosey and Ken and also the F4 1000 R so I could make my “Rookie” run…which is something I’ve always wanted to do. I went first and was not allowed to exceed 125mph. I hit 126mph and am prepared to go to 150mph tomorrow assuming no surprises from the competition. The Triumph broke, but they’ll have it fixed in the morning.
I was asked what it was like to make my first run down the salt….the only word that comes to mind is “humbling”. As hard as this is to believe is there is a perfect calm in your mind when you are at top speed. What a great life’s experience!
So we have a plan and we also are flexible enough to change at any moment. I think we have all the bases covered.
Finally…how fast do I think we really can go with the F4 312R…? 200mph!
The MV’s are just fantastic pieces of equipment and art! More tomorrow.
Gary
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DAY 6
We showed up on the salt at 6:00AM and put both bikes on the trailer to go get in line to run. We were certain our Suzuki would be there gunning for us, but by noon there was no sign of him. It was later discovered that he had given up and changed classes. Not all bad I’d say!
We came here thinking we’d go for up to four records with the two MV Agusta motorcycles, but coming here is much like sailing…you have to cover your competition even if you are in the lead. If he goes in the wrong direction and you have a big enough lead then you go with him. So here we are in the lead, but we really respect this guy coming back as he has so this prevents us from running other classes to set records because the 1000cc production bike record is what we came here to defend and this is the most important of the records. Now that Suzuki is gone we are watching a Kawasaki which is running against us.
We have more in the MV1000-312R, but we don’t want anyone to know how much more. If we don’t have to use it this year then we’ll save it for next year as we’ll need a 200mph bike to defend this year’s record.
So Rosey had the day off….sort of. I chose to go for my next license on the F41000R and listened to Rosey quite intently as to what I could expect. We set up to run 166mph and I did run at that speed and the rear tire turned at 166mph, but due to the poor condition of the track and the 100+ degree temperatures, we had a 15mph wheel spin factor. I must say it was a grand experience going 151mph with the rear end of the bike sliding around. It was just like flying my Bonanza airplane in turbulence. You don’t try to react to the tail moving back and forth with the controls, but handle it with the throttle. I got my next license and now I’m not longer a rookie. This means I can run up to 200mph. BUT I don’t think this is in the cards this year. I just wanted the experience and might go for 175mph tomorrow just to see what it’s like. I do understand why Rosey does this!
So here we go tomorrow as we get closer to keeping our new record. Great fun, great people and world class experiences!
Gary
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DAY 7
We arrived on the salt about 6:30AM to get our “beauty” shots of the bike and also monitor our competition. The Suzuki that was chasing us changed classes and in doing so the tech inspection people found some things that “were not quite production” for our class. We don’t know if he was permitted to run any further. The Kawasaki and Honda have given up. We don’t know of anyone else so the chances are excellent that our record will stand.
Racing is over at noon tomorrow and while we’re all packed and ready to leave for home, we left the trailer on the salt and will go back in the morning to make sure no one is trying to pull a last minute run on us.
I completed my qualification and was permitted to run on the long course (6 miles long). I was able to go 183.4 mph and I must say that this is a grand experience. I think I’d like to go for a record next year.
The Detroit Free Press will do their story on the front page of the Sunday paper on August 26th. Their video will also air on their web site on the 26th as well. They sure have covered us from one end to the other so we’ll send you the details in a further update.
It has been a fantastic week and I must tell you that if you don’t go to Bonneville at least once in your life you have missed a “life’s experience”.
Gary
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LAST DAY
SO YOU THOUGHT IT WAS ALL OVER!
WELL YOU BETTER SIT DOWN!
All week I have been telling the team that I had a bad feeling about the Suzuki and that he would try to snipe us in the end. He’s been off the salt for the past two days so most everyone was feeling pretty good…NOT ME!
We packed the trailer last night and left it on the salt. We were all ready to go this morning, but not after checking the staging line as they would race up until noon and then any record runs would take place following that.
We pulled up to staging and no one was there…..until we walked to the end of the line and guess who was sitting there? Yup…the last one to run would be our Suzuki. As I walked by I head one of their team say that the MV team had gone home. At that point I knew what they were going to do. They had come back with some “questionable” horsepower and expected to do their record run with us not there and then back it up for the record with no one to keep them honest.
I figured the mind games were about to begin and they did. I walked past them to make sure they knew we were there and we went back to our pits and picked up our trailer and got back into staging in time to run. We were five vehicles behind them and last in line.
Ken our crew chief walked up to take a look at the Suzuki to see if there was anything obvious and one of our crew members photographed his bike. The guy covered the bike and got very upset with us looking at his bike. We invited people to look at our MV! I then approached the guy and told him how much I admired his tenacity as I was the same way. I told him I knew he would be back and that there was no way we would ever cheat to get a record and that I knew he wouldn’t either with his wife and children present. I shook his hand and wished him good luck…..but I knew he was cheating when he looked away from me when I told him I was sure he wasn’t cheating.
He got on the line with his fastest speed of the meet being 191mph. Well he had “good luck” today and ran 197mph!!!!! Our turn…and Rosey turns a 193.732 to break his own record. We would both go to compound and have a shoot out in less than an hour. We called the Free Press journalists who were on their way to Salt Lake City and they turned around and got back in time to catch our run. Obviously it looked bad for us, but it is never over until its over! As we stood in compound waiting to go back to the line to shoot it out we were advised by Tech Inspection that the Suzuki had withdrawn and gone home. So you draw your own conclusions. Would you go home if you were sure you had the record in had?
Rosey ran the back up run and missed breaking his own record by .5mph. So we are now leaving with the record in hand.
What a week!!!!! But we did what we came to do and next year we’ll run 200mph!
More updates as they happen.
PS: Is your heart still racing? Ours are!
Gary
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IT’S NOT OVER YET!
After making our final run we loaded the trailer and left the salt at about 3:00PM. Our plan was to drive to Salt Lake City, pick up the repaired Sprinter Van and then drive back to Detroit non stop. The trip would take about thirty-one hours. The next morning as we passed through downtown Omaha…..I got a call from one of our crew members who had flown home and was told that the Bonneville web site stats page for the event had finally been repaired and there was some disturbing news as it showed the Suzuki had broken our record Friday morning by .6mph.
The Bonneville web site is used by all competitors to track their competition. It tells everyone when someone ran and what their speed was. There is also a record page showing new records each day. The Bonneville web site was down Thursday and Friday so there was no way to track anyone short of being on the starting line non stop…and this is almost four miles from the pits.
So what happened was the Suzuki was the last competitor to run on Thursday when he broke our record by .3mph. He then went to impound and used an enclosed trailer so we wouldn’t see his bike. He knew we’d have his motor checked if he set any record. The next morning (Friday the last day) he was the first to run at 7:00AM and backed up his record by more than 1.5mph and broke our record by 1 mph. When we arrived at the starting line to make sure no one was staging we saw him in line to run again. This is when we pulled our bike from the trailer and went after him. We broke his new record with our first run and we didn’t even know it. We failed to back it up on our next run. But this forced the Suzuki to run again and he was so concerned we’d break his record “he used all he had” and went 197mph which was a speed his “production” bike was not able to reach!
Thus, when he left impound without backing up his record he did so to avoid being caught and having all his results nullified.
So it is a bit numbing to get this information in Omaha on the way home.
So what’s my reaction?
If he can live with himself then fine.
He doesn’t know me well enough.
How do I feel?
We broke our record twice with a “production motorcycle”.
We got the maximum performance from the 312 on the salt. 312 stands for 312kph, the theoretical speed of the bike on paper. Our record was 311.335kph.
Rosey went faster than he has ever gone in his life at 195mph.
I qualified to race and went faster on the ground than I have ever gone before.
I was only 4 mph off the last year’s record on that qualifying run.
We worked as a team and had the respect of the racing community.
So what more could we ask for except the record? Nothing. We’re all home safe and sound and we had one hell of a ride.
BUT….we will get our record back this year! The World Finals takes place October 3-5 and I plan to be there with our MV and more “legal” horsepower. The production rules state that the diameter of the carburetor or fuel injection ventures’ can not be changed and the inner diameter of the exhaust outlet can not be changed. Cams, pistons, heads etc. can be virtually anything. This is gentlemen racing and it presumes everyone there is above cheating because if you get caught cheating, it is a small community and bad news travels fast.
Our MV is superior to the Suzuki in terms of traction and aerodynamics. He beat us with brut horsepower…..more horsepower than even his 1000cc Suzuki can put out in race trim. So we’ll give him another shot at us and we’ll be in impound if he cares to stay long enough to have his bike inspected.
Finishing second is not an option and I think this is what the Suzuki has to know about me.
There will be more updates.
Gary
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