Kawasaki hauls stunt rider to world record
Kawasaki provided the pulling power for stunt rider Jonny Davies to break the Guinness World Record for the fastest speed being dragged behind a motorbike.
The modified supercharged Kawasaki Ninja H2 SX hauled Davies, aka JD Stunts, at 159.52mph to break the 25-year-old record.
The challenge took place at Elvington Airfield, near York, as part of the 2024 Ultimate Supercar Show.
Already a two-time Guinness world record-holder, Davies set his sights on breaking the record for the fastest speed dragged behind a motorcycle. After speaking with Kawasaki at Motorcycle Live, Birmingham NEC, last year, it was clear the H2 SX would be the perfect machine for accelerating hard in the short distance available, while maintaining stability.
The bike remained completely stock, apart from a specially-fitted secondary throttle at the back so he could still accelerate while skiing behind.
He said the Ninja H2 SX was the perfect tool for the job.
“The bike passed the ultimate stability test of 159.522mph with no rider and pulled like a train even with me getting dragged along the floor behind it,” he added.
And a Ninja H2 helped Kawasaki’s ongoing quest for the future of motorcycling with the world’s first public demonstration run of a mass-production hydrogen motorbike at Japan’s Suzuka Circuit.
The supercharged 998cc H2 petrol engine had been modified to run on hydrogen and the chassis designed to accommodate hydrogen fuel canisters.
Hydrogen engines emit mainly water and Kawasaki aims to launch a hydrogen motorbike, as one carbon-neutral option, in the early 2030s.
You will not need special boots fitted with titanium ‘skis’, like Davies wore for the record-breaking run, but you can see our range of motorbike boots at orwell.co.uk/shop/clothing/boots
Find about the latest Kawasaki Ninja H2 SX at orwell.co.uk/kawasaki/new-kawasaki-motorcycle-range/sport-tourer/h2-sx/2024