ZX-12R helps break world record
By GARY MORELLO
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How fast?
Dirk gets high on carbon monoxide
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A new world record has been set by German Dirk Auer at the
Lausitzring speedway in Euro-land.
The ZX-12R didn't break the record for the fastest production
bike - no, that one still belongs to the 2000 model Hayabusa.
Rather, the big, green, 1200cc Ninja helped Dirk reach 270km/h
on his roller blades.
Yes. Roller blades.
These are the things that allow their wearers the simple
pleasure of casually cruising along. If you take a tumble
at, let me think, 5km/h, you hurt yourself.
So here is Dirk, holding on to the rear of a two-wheeled
fire-cracker with a set of 10 high-tech wheels custom-made
by Dunlop to withstand the immense heat from the friction
generated.
And guess who was riding the Kwaka? Akira Yanagawa of Superbike
fame.
After an extended visit to the WC, Dirk said, "I'm ecstatic
at being able to set such a fast speed. It’s much more of
an adrenalin rush behind a bike compared to a car."
Yanagawa had this to say about the stunt: "I thought
I was crazy, but now I’ve met someone crazier than me. When
I was first asked to help Dirk I thought it sounded a little
dangerous but when we were introduced he was so professional.
This gave me the confidence that safety was high on his priorities.
"The front of the bike was a little light under hard
acceleration but apart from that I couldn’t feel any differences.
I gave him a couple of runs through the lights just to see
if he was able to hang on. He gave me the O.K. so on the third
run I just wound on the throttle as far as I could, changing
through the gears like my ZX-7RR Fuchs Superbike. To Dirk’s
credit he was able to hang on! Now I’ve got the bug and would
love to be able to break the 300km/hr run."
Tune in next week when we tie a couch to an AvGas-fuelled
CT125 ridden by Gary McCoy.
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