Bonneville Speed Week sees new records and motorcycle debuts

The 2026 Bonneville Speed Week featured significant performances from both motorcycle and diesel streamliner competitors on the Utah salt flats.

Buell debuted its “Project Leviathan,” a 401 hp supercharged 1,190 cc V-Twin motorcycle designed to exceed 402 km/h. During its first real-world participation, pilot Jacob Stark achieved a maximum speed of 287.3 km/h. While short of the target, the manufacturer indicated the result is part of an ongoing development project.

In the diesel category, Salty Box Racing’s “Thunder in the Morning” streamliner set two SCTA-certified records. Driven by Ryan Boyle, the vehicle achieved an official two-run average of 328.285 mph in the C/DS class, surpassing the previous 2024 record of 315.570 mph. The streamliner is powered by a 5.9-liter Cummins inline-six engine, which required extensive engineering to integrate into a chassis originally designed for nitro power.