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MV AGUSTA SETS BONNEVILLE LAND SPEED RECORD

The 2007 MV Agusta F4-1000R takes title of World’s Fastest 1000cc Production Motorcycle

During the 58th Annual Bonneville National Speedweek land speed trials held August 12th- 18th, 2006 the 2007 MV Agusta F4-1000R raced across the salt and into the Southern California Timing Association Record Books as the fastest production class 1000cc four-cylinder motorcycle in the world, having achieved an average combined speed of 185.882 MPH and a highest single speed of 187.726 MPH.

A collaboration between Team Manager, Bob Leppan of TT Motorcycles, Detroit MI; Rider Roosevelt ‘Rosey’ Lackey, also from Detroit; Tuner Eraldo Ferracci, of Fast by Ferracci Racing Products, Willow Grove, PA; Primary Sponsor, Gary Kohs, of Fine Art Models, in Royal Oak, MI; and Matthew Stutzman, MV Agusta GM Cagiva USA, Willow Grove, PA; the determined group focused their collaborative efforts on the single goal of achieving the “P-P” 1000cc Land Speed Record for showroom stock Production Engine / Production Frame previously set at 182.759 MPH by Steele Speed Racing. The 1000cc “P-P” record is particularly desirable as it strictly based upon unmodified ‘showroom stock’ production models available at any authorized dealer. To a manufacturer, authorized dealers, and clients, this is particularly significant record due to the fact that the motorcycle on the salt is virtually identical to those sold in the showroom. Only the mirrors, turn signals, and license plate holder have been removed for the sake of safety.

After arriving, registering, and successfully passing technical safety inspection on Friday, August 11th, the stage was set and the F4-1000R stood ready each and every run to deliver its factory rated 174 HP and 81.8 Ft./Lb. of torque which propelled the motorcycle unerringly to the very limits of traction and aerodynamics in pursuit of its factory claimed top speed of 187 MPH. Despite varying degrees of traction on the salt and the diminishing effects of the altitude, the MV Agusta F4-1000R continued each day to edge closer to the target record.

On the first day of qualifying, the 69 year old Bonneville racing veteran, Rosey Lackey was required to qualify for a higher license classification, demonstrating his ability to safely control the 1000cc motorcycle at speeds in excess of 175 MPH. On this pass, Rosey was instructed not to exceed 175 MPH and to ensure a clean run. Utilizing the precision of the F4-1000R throttle control and engine management system, he was clocked on the 3 mile ‘Short’ corse at 174.754 MPH on his first run. In doing so, he gained the needed license upgrade and then proceeded to carefully push the speeds higher beginning again Sunday morning. After the first run of the morning, the F4-1000R achieved the coveted ‘175’ decal indicating the motorcycle had become qualified to run on the 7 mile ‘Long’ corse with the fastest vehicles of the event. Having already been in line for one more attempt on the Short corse, the team elected to make one last Short run before the first attempt on the Long corse as the last run of the day. The motorcycle approached its terminal speed within the first mile in nearly each and every run, limited only by the ability to gain precious traction on the salt. At the same time, the other vehicle in the class, a 2006 Honda CBR-1000RR struggled to reach its highest speed of the day at 164.458 MPH and failed to qualify for long course runs to remain eligible for record run attempts.

Despite less than ideal conditions on the salt, the F4-1000R efforts continued on Monday finding another MPH + over the previous days’ best run, and put the motorcycle within less than one MPH of qualifying at a record attempt at 181.958 MPH.

Tuesday Morning arrived along with somewhat improved salt conditions, however the days run was waived by the team after a careful inspection revealed that a suspension component had suffered damage during service and needed to be replaced to ensure the safety of the rider and the subsequent success of the effort. The team accomplished the repairs in time to run again that day, however in a last minute decision, it was decided to trade the last run of the day with Ron Main’s ECOtec streamliner in hopes of more favorable running conditions. The ECOtec team was ecstatic with the opportunity and benefiting from a blown fuel engine making its own atmosphere, handily qualified and became eligible to back up the run with a record attempt the following morning. Although everyone on the MV Agusta team was eager to run again, it was unanimously agreed that with more favorable salt and weather conditions the following morning, the F4-1000R would surely break the record and would soon join the other qualifiers in the impound area and move on to a record breaking run.

After an anxious nights sleep, the team reconvened the following Wednesday morning before dawn to attend to last minute fettling before the qualifying attempt. Careful streamlining with the ubiquitous racer’s tape, and final tire pressure adjustments were the only modifications agreed upon so as not to disturb the motorcycle’s widely adjustable settings which had already allowed the motorcycle to reach within a fraction of the record on previous runs. “One of the most difficult challenges when racing in this environment is to resist the temptation to make unnecessary changes to a motorcycle which is already running so strong,” said MV Agusta GM, Matthew Stutzman, “the key is to avoid making changes which are not based upon sound decisions, careful consideration, and practical, learned experience.” After the morning’s convincing qualifying run, achieving a top speed of 187.726 MPH, it was apparent that the only thing the motorcycle needed from the previous day was better traction on the salt and cooler morning temperatures to deliver its utmost performance on the course. Rider Rosey Lackey said, “The bike is so beautiful, it does everything you could want for it to do, with nothing ill at all in any way shape or form, no hiccups anywhere.” He continued, “ I love that motorcycle just the way it is.” After the qualifying run, the MV Agusta F4-1000R was immediately transported to the technical impound area for a fuel sample and to ensure no modifications could be made to the motorcycle prior to the record attempt the following day. After refueling the motorcycle it was carefully cleaned, covered, to await the record attempt of the following morning. That evening the team agreed that it would be another very early start to reach the staging line as soon as possible. It was once again agreed that no further changes would be made to the motorcycle other than tire pressure. The F4-1000R qualified with a very strong time, and barring the unforeseen, would be able to achieve the same speed again with little trouble.

The following Thursday morning, the stage was set for Rosey and the MV Agusta F4-1000R to catapult down the salt for the required record run to back up the qualifying run the following day. With temperatures a bit higher and a noticeable headwind, the rider and machine were still able to attain a strong speed of 184.861 MPH as the fastest achieved speed of the day. The exact record time is measured by taking the average of the speed in the same mile on the two consecutive runs. In this case, the highest average speed was achieved in the fifth mile at 185.882 MPH, breaking the previous record by 3.12 MPH.

Having broken the old record, the F4-1000R was immediately returned to the impound area for a very careful examination by the SCTA motorcycle technicians to ensure the validity of the entry. As a production class entry, the motorcycle receives an even greater level of scrutiny to ensue no modifications have been made. All required documentation was presented, the bore and stroke were carefully measured to confirm the motor’s 998.8cc, and a fuel sample was collected for testing to ensure that no shortcuts were taken. Having successfully passed the thorough tech inspection, the motorcycle stood quietly in the sun, having achieved the deserved status as the Fastest Production Class 1000cc motorcycle in the World.

The Bonneville effort was yet another step in the contemporary MV Agusta brand’s return to organized racing and complements the grass roots efforts taking place in Europe and beginning to arise in America as well. Cagiva USA, Inc., the official North American importer of MV Agusta, is currently exploring AMA homologation for Superstock and Superbike in 2007. Racing and sponsorship proposals are already under consideration, and CEO Larry Ferracci notes that “with a performance like this at its Bonneville debut, the MV Agusta F4-1000R is poised to be the model that will bring MV Agusta’s historic championship-winning success to US racetracks in the very near future.”

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