Perennial daredevil Guy Martin has performed the fist shake-down runs of a new motorcycle streamliner powered by a Rolls Royce Gem helicopter gas turbine engine, with the aim of reaching 400mph in Bolivia and breaking the current motorcycle land speed record.

Guy Martin Aims for 400mph

Since he came to fame with the movie about the Isle of Man TT races - Closer to the Edge - Guy Martin has become one of the UK's favourite TV personalities and seemingly ready to turn his hand to anything that involves speed.

Most recently connected with Triumph and that company's attempt to break land speed records in its twin-Rocket 3-powered streamliner, Martin has now got involved in another attempt, this time aiming for 400mph and the outright motorcycle land speed record.

The new 'motorcycle' project is being led by Alex Macfadzean, himself a former GP and TT sidecar racer, and British Superbike team owner Bernie Toleman.

Called The 52 Express, the bike is powered by a 1200shp (shaft horsepower) Rolls-Royce Gem helicopter gas turbine engine and will attempt to beat the existing record.

Previously run on a dyno, the runs performed by Martin were a slow-speed shakedown to test ability to steer and brake and low-speed stability. The machine is running without bodywork as work is underway on body shape and air-intake work is being carried out at engineering firm Mira-Horiba.

The final attempt will take place at the Salar de Uyuni salt flats in Bolivia, with slower test runs below 200mph due to take place in the UK first. No time schedule has been released for the main attempt.

The current outright world motorcycle record of 376.363mph was set in 2010 by American Rocky Robinson at Bonneville in the twin Suzuki Hayabusa-engined ‘Ack-Attack’ streamliner.

To follow progress on the project, visit the team's Facebook page here