The eccentric British racer and TV personality Guy Martin has set his sights on another land speed record, specifically 400 mph. As part of a project dubbed the 52 Express led by former GP and TT sidecar racer Alex Macfadzean, Martin hopes to pilot a motorcycle faster than anyone in history. To support the effort, Macfadzean has offered up a collection of classic BMW R-series motorcycles which will be crossing the auction block at the Silverstone Auctions on Saturday, May 22, 2021. With a little help from his friends, Martin could very well be the fastest man on two wheels assuming they raise the funds needed to finish and test the bike currently under construction.

This Guy Wants To Go Faster and Faster

Guy Martin holding a framed images over his land speed record Suzuki Hayabusa.
Via: The 52 Express

As one of the most unique characters in racing, Guy Martin came to fame during his numerous attempts to stand atop the podium at the Isle of Man TT. While he frequently made it on the podium (17 times in fact), Martin never won an event at the TT. He became a crowd favorite based on his underdog status and his no nonsense language and attitude. His wit and way of speaking made him a star on camera and in time that led to a second career as a TV personality. Much of his time on TV has been devoted to speed and in particular, breaking various records.

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The strategy has proven a success, as Martin holds several Guinness World Records including for the fastest gravity powered snow sled (83.49 mph) and fastest tractor (135.191 mph). Yet through all of these land speed pursuits, Martin has kept his eyes on one prize that has remained just out of reach—the motorcycle land speed record. Dating back to 2015, Martin has worked with teams like Triumph to take a crack at the two-wheel title. But for a litany of reasons, Martin has always come up short. So the current record set in 2010 remains in the hands of the Ack Attack team and rider Rocky Robinson.

Guy Martin Hopes To Take The 52 Express Into The Record Books

A rendering of the 52 Express bike that Guy Martin hopes to set a land record with.
Via: The 52 Express

Outfitting a land speed record bike and the necessary support team is no easy task. It takes significant time and money. As such, Alex Macfadzean is looking to build up some capital to keep the team on track, so he has generously offered to sell  a 1961 BMW R50S, a 1964 BMW R27, a 1967 BMW R50/2, a 1968 BMW R69S, and a 1970 BMW R60/5. This gesture shows his devotion to Martin and their mutual desire to field the fastest motorcycle on the planet.

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