BRITAIN’S PRESTIGE

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 378, 12 June 1928, Page 7

BRITAIN’S PRESTIGE

MOTOR-CYCLE RECORDS Great Britain has the machines and she has the riders; nevertheless she is losing her hold on the world’s motorcycle records. Each year records of vital importance to the industary are being captured by foreign nations. Records are more than merely a proof of speed. They imply that the coutnry which holds them knows most about motor-cycles. If Britain ceases to retain the pick of these records foreign nations will begin to usurp her position in the vast markets overseas. Britain still holds the majority of the records, but in those classes in which she specialises and in which there is foreign competition she is not supreme. In the 500 c.c. solo class which Britiish manufacturers have developed and which is probably the most popular type of machine to-day, England His lost supremacy, and a 494 c.c. now holds the honour of being the world’s fastest single cylinder machine with a speed of 114.02 m.p.h. In the 350 c.c. class, foreign manufacturers hold the j majority of records, the proportion being 23 to 13. However, a British machine holds the fastest speed in this class at 102.99 m.p.h. The long distance tiles which prove speed combined with stamina are fast changing hands, and it is only in the classes in which there is little competition that the British machine is unchallenged. This state of affairs is probably due to the fact that riders q,re paid according to the number of records broken, a difficult or an easy record bringing the same pay. Under the circumstances it is no wonder the ! professional riders attack the easy records, leaving the more difficult and more keely contested to foreign riders, who are employed on a different basis. There has also been a tendency during the past couple of years for the leading manufacturers of Britain to rest on their laurels and endeavour to cut expenses.

Brooklands track is now considered out of date, and the fact that it is much slower than the Continental speedways is making the establishment of records more difficult and more costly. To secure real results new records are being attempted on the French tracks. There seems to be a tendency in the season just opening in the Old Country for firms to be taking a renewed interest in speed events, and if this is so no doubt it will not be long before Britain once more holds undisputed supremacy.