It was Kawasaki’s dream and challenge to make it achieve 400Kmph

On June 30, KAWASAKI Ninja H2R, known as the world’s fastest motorcycle, has broken the record to become the truly fastest mass-produced motorcycle on the public road.

This challenge was conducted on the closed crossing bridge across the Gulf of Izmit in Turkey. The Turkish superstar, Kenan Sofuoglu, who had won the WorldSSP Championship for four times went for the record.

For your information, WorldSSP is a motorcycle racing competition of the 600cc class motorcycles which runs as a support class to the Superbike World Championship (SBK). Its remodeling regulations are much tighter than that of SBK, and thus the victory or defeat owes much to the performance skill of the bike itself and the rider. No doubt you can easily imagine the skill level of Sofuoglu who is being called as the most successful rider of the SSP. This year, Sofuoglu will be back in his Kawasaki ZX-6R to achieve the fifth World Supersport crown.

“To make H2R overcome its current speed record, 380Kmph, and have it achieve 400Kmph” was what Kawasaki dreamed for and entrusted to Sofuoglu. He went through 4 months of training, checked the site beforehand over and over again, and prepared for this day. He even had his leather suit specially made to order for the record challenge.

To start from the very beginning, H2R is a mega sport bike that has been developed by the comprehensive technology of Kawasaki Motors Corporation Japan. What makes H2R so special is its “super charger.” H2R was the first commercially sold motorcycle to mount it.

Kawasaki had managed to complete the development with the full aid of its Gas Turbine Division and its Aerospace Division; fields which Kawasaki excels at. It is clearly different from the conventional type of mass production motorcycles.

H2, a public road model whose boost pressure is held down, generates 200ps. Yet this H2R, which is unleashed to become a race model, generates maximum 300ps with its 1000cc straight 4-cylinder engine. No one shall have the slightest objection to the fact that it is the today’s most powerful and fastest machine in the world.

The moment of destiny. The tire limit is within 30 seconds.

And here comes the moment of destiny. Although I want you to check out the scene on the video, first I would like to give you some preliminary information to deepen your understanding on its glory.

At the beginning, you will see the H2R standing at the starting point on the long crossing bridge; the road veiled in a haze. The variant style motorcycle with winglets, aiming for its unprecedented goal, is breathtakingly beautiful. It mounts racing slick tires which catch the mega power that exceeds 300PS. The limit time for slick tires to support that speed range is within 30 seconds. Sofuoglu prays. It’s as though you can hear his leaping heart beat. And then comes the moment of destiny. H2R makes a mad dash, spinning its wheels.

The onboard camera installed on the cockpit shows the H2R reach 100km/h right after its start, 200km/h in 4 seconds, amazingly 300km/h in 8 seconds, and further accelerate. The white lines on the road dive into your view like a spray of bullets. The rider’s eye-level video is just overwhelming, for it’s not the speed level of a ground-based ride.

It feels as though the H2R is going to achieve the goal at one burst. Yet there seems to be a barrier around there, and the few seconds after it reaches 390km/h feels long enough. After pausing a moment, it accelerates again, and the speedometer saying 400km/h jumps into my eyes right after it reaches 26 seconds.

Sofuoglu holds up his fists in triumph, unable to keep down his surge of emotions. He is the very hero when he is being congratulated and tossed in the air by friends, and flying the flag of Turkey on his H2R.

At the end of the video, you’ll see the H2R being started and displaying the record “MAX SPEED 400km/h”. It’s as though you’re watching a cool last scene of a good-quality action movie. “It was my dream to achieve this speed record and to thank god.” says Sofuoglu. I would like to glorify the success of Sofuoglu and the H2R which fulfilled his and Kawasaki’s dream.

Sofuoglu Hits 400 km/h in Record Attempt

Click here for videos -> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9pyDQ1tkq9w

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