IN
THE
WIND
P48
C
alifornia's Lightning
Motorcycles will be
debuting a new electric
superbike at the upcom-
ing Bonneville Speed
Week (August 12-18) and
aiming to break their
own 218 mph production
electric motorcycle speed
record, set back in 2012
on the LS-218 (named
so for doing 218 mph at
Bonneville).
In keeping with tradi-
tion, Lightning has not
named their new machine
just yet, as they're waiting for it to set
a speed before christening it.
"Our rider, Jim Hoogerhyde, has
an impressive resume of race wins
and landspeed records himself,"
said Richard Hatfield, Lightning
CEO, "but Bonneville Speed Week
in August is lining up to be a special
event. We look forward to working with Jim to re-
place the '??' with an exciting number for our LS-2??
RR".
The new LS-2?? has been designed around a
newer, lighter chassis, as well as new battery tech-
nology and an electric drive system Lightning claims
gives a straight "curve" from 100 rpm to 9500 rpm.
On July 16, Lightning took its prototype LS-2??
RR to El Mirage, California, for its first shakedown
run. The 211.730-mph first run was the second-
fastest among 90 purpose-built land-speed-record
racing vehicles running during this event, and broke
Lightning's own standing-start mile record of 189
mph set in 2012 with the production LS-218. CN
This LS-218
is set to be
replaced, but
we won't know
the model
designation until
after Bonneville.
Lightning Motorcycles Going for
New Record at Bonneville
Ferris
Wins Again
D
ean Ferris, on the CDR Yamaha, grabbed
his seventh straight overall victory in the
MX1 class in the Motul Australian MX Nation-
als. Ferris won both motos in round eight of
the series at Port Macquarie, July 30.
Todd Waters was second overall, fol-
lowed by Luke Clout (Honda), Brett Metcalfe
(Husqvarna) and Nathan Crawford (Kawa-
saki).
American Kyle Peters (Suzuki) was ninth.
With just two rounds to go, Ferris enjoys a
commanding 75-point lead over Kirk Gibbs
(seventh in Port Macquarie) in the MX1 class.
Kade Mosig (sixth on the day) is third, 15
points behind Gibbs.
Peters is seventh in the championship. CN
