University of Essex Sports Psychologist Dr Murray Griffin will be gaining a unique insight into the world of extreme sports when he attempts to break the land speed record on a motorcycle.
Dr Griffin and his support team will be travelling to the Bonneville salt flats in the US to compete in the annual Bonneville Speed Week in August - and join the list of land speed luminaries including Donald Campbell, Steve Green, Richard Noble and Art Arfons.
In order to beat the current record, Dr Griffin will need to reach average speeds of 215mph over two attempts. In the 60 years of the Speed Week, just 80 motorcyclists have been able to achieve this at this event.
Dr Griffin is no stranger to speed, having competed on motorcycles for over ten years, he has reached 200mph no less than 5 times previously.
Using a Modified 2003 Nitrous injected Suzuki Hayabusa motorcycle, Dr Griffin believes he has a good chance: 'Although this is the first time I have competed at Bonneville, practice times in training have been very encouraging.'
However, there are a number of conditions that the team, and Dr Griffin, will need to overcome in order to be in with a chance of achieving their optimum speed. The salt flats provide a loose surface which the bike has to move smoothly over, and being over 4,000-feet above sea-level, high winds, humidity and temperatures of more than 35°C have to be overcome.
Dr Griffin added: 'Having spent years researching sports people and what motivates them, this is my chance to experience that motivation - first hand.'
Dr Griffin and his team are just one of a handful of teams from the UK flying out to the US to attempt the record. As well as needing sponsorship to compete, they will also be raising money for the Riding for the Disabled Association.
Source: By University Of Essex
Comment and add to the story without registration, but keep the comments meaningful please. Links are not accepted.
