From Textbooks to Record Books

Adam’s Turbocharged YZF-R3 Salt Flats Glory

The record achievement was the culmination of Adam’s project to transform a standard Yamaha YZF-R3 into a land-speed record contender. What began as a bold university project quickly evolved into a full-fledged attempt to push the limits of a learner-approved motorcycle and claim a speed record.

Read about Adam’s journey to the salt here

 
Reflecting on the experience, Adam said he had an incredible time racing at Speed Week on the salt at Lake Gairdner:

The week flew by! (Pun intended) The conditions were intense, with temperatures nearing 40°C each day, but my team—Nell (my wife) and Sarah (my daughter)—worked tirelessly to bring this project to the finish line. Despite many challenges along the way, we achieved our goal and set a record with our turbocharged Yamaha YZF-R3. We now hold the Australian land speed record in the 350cc Modified Partial Streamlined Blown Gas (MPS-BG) class at 111.45mph (179.36km/h). We were among the few who successfully set a record this year, not bad for our first visit to the salt.

I had hoped to go a bit faster, but a combination of factors meant that 111mph (178.63 km/h) was the best we could manage on the day. I had to nurse the engine because it was running very lean at wide-open throttle, limiting how hard I could push it and the number of revs I could ask it to deliver. I initially thought that running the engine at 11000rpm with an air-fuel ratio of 12.75:1 (same as standard) would be fine and should have delivered 60hp. But because the bike is not normally aspirated, the air-fuel ratio needed to come down to something around 11:1. The air-fuel ratio problem cut the available power dramatically, and I only had 46hp to play with. As I pushed the revs higher the standard setup was approaching its limits, so I needed to play it safe.

In an attempt to overcome the fuelling issue at high revs, we changed the gearing from 14/43 to 15/38, but that still wasn’t tall enough to compensate for not being able to use the top revs.

My first run, with a self-imposed rev limit of 9000 rpm, delivered an average speed for the measured mile of 103.52mph (166.60 km/h). I wanted to get a run on the board before pushing harder. A lot of people try to go flat out from the first run, blow up their engine, and go home with nothing. Even though the fuelling issues meant I had to play it conservative I pushed the little bike harder for my second attempt to post 112mph (180.24km/h) and 110mph (177.02km/h) for my third run for an official record of 111.45mph (179.36km/h).

One thing you quickly learn is that going fast on the salt is not about just opening the throttle all the way and hanging on. There are so many variables that need to be considered when making a run.

The Yamaha behaved faultlessly, and I’m already making plans for a return in 2026. I’ve been working on a purpose-built engine that has bigger injectors and taller gearing. It also has stronger inlet valve springs, thermal coating on the pistons, regapped rings, Carrillo rods, a balanced crankshaft, and ARP studs. The stronger engine and new injectors will allow more fuel to flow at the top end. We can then start using the top-end potential of this engine. We can also increase boost that will increase horsepower. Hopefully, then we can start targeting 125mph (201.16km/h) roll on Speed Week 2026.

What's It Like To Stare Down The Big White Dyno
Waiting at the start line, everything is still. The vast salt flats stretch endlessly and is shimmering under scorching sun. It’s so quiet, just the occasional flutter of a flag, and I use the silence to focus, running through the ride in my head one last time.

Sarah, my daughter, walks up to me for the final preflight check. She asks if I’m nervous and gives me a thumbs-up. I nod and turn my attention to my own mental checklist—front brake lever removed, check. Tucked position, check. GoPro recording, check. Tyre pressures, check.

The heat is stifling inside my leathers as the temperature nears 40 degrees. But when the starter raises the go board, all of that disappears. My concentration narrows to the bike, the salt, and the run ahead.

I click into first gear and roll onto the throttle. The turbo spools up, pushing me forward, and I feel the rear wheel fight for traction on the salt. The bike squirms slightly beneath me. Tucking in as tight as I can, I keep my eyes on the track while stealing glances at the tachometre. The engine sings and the bike surges past 199kph on the dash—the highest the speedo will register. The salt isn’t as smooth as it looks, ridding it at speed you feel every ripple through the bars as the bike rumbles over tiny undulations. There’s so many things to think about; throttle position, revs, body position, keeping the bike dead straight.

By the time I hit the first timing gun, I’m at top speed for my chosen rev limit. I’m so tucked in that I can barely see over the tank. The wind howls around me, pressing hard against my helmet and shoulders, and my vision narrows to a tunnel stretching infinitely ahead.

This is it. Months of work, planning, and troubleshooting—all condensed into this one moment.

The timing lights flash past, and just like that, it’s done. I ease off the throttle, the engine note drops as I roll off speed. Sitting up, I let the wind cool me. I take in the amazing view of the salt glowing white against the endless blue sky, stretching out in every direction. It’s so wide and open, that depth perception has no reverence points to cling onto.

Pulling off the track, I turn the bike toward my team, and as I roll to a stop, Nell and Sarah rush over, their excitement matching my own.

A new Australian land speed record in the 350cc Modified Partial Streamlined Blown Gas (MPS-BG) class—111.45mph (179.36km/h).

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