Damn Fast: Valerie Thompson's Insane 212mph BMW S1000RR

The Bonneville Motorcycle Speed Trials finished up at the end of August as a major success. Fighting off rain, but still fairing better than the Bonneville Speed Week which saw a flooded pit area cancellation. First it was Bonneville Speed Week followed by the first ever Bonneville Motorcycle Speed Trials and finally the World of Speed event, which ended September 9th, 2014.

This was the year of the women, with fast girls like Valerie Thompson on her BMW S1000RR and Eva Håkansson on the world’s fastest electric bike (look for a post soon).

Valerie has been a long time land-speed racer and started out drag racing. Making her way up the circuits, she wound up at Bonneville after sponsors and fans offered her rides.

This year she added to her list of records, now totaling seven, and earned her red hat (entry into the 200mph club). Grabbing a MPS-G 1000 record of 208.81mph on her BMW1000RR.

Bonneville

The crumby weather held up at least one of Valerie's runs, as she wasn’t able to back up a 203.77mph pass at the first event, the Bonneville Motorcycle Speed Trials.

For those of you who don’t know, if you set a record, you must then head to the tech-inspection compound, where the bike is inspected again. The next day, usually in the early morning, you must make a “back up” pass, that is also above the current record. The average of your two passes becomes your record. Valerie’s backup attempt was postponed due to rain.

Valerie remained in Utah for a month, competing in all three events. Six out of 8 of her runs during her time at Bonneville were over 200mph. Her last runs on the salt were her fastest, 209.85 mph with a return run of 207.71 mph, setting the record at 208.81 mph.

“I've wanted the 200 MPH Club Red Hat since I started racing on the salt, so it’s an awesome achievement for me. I can't thank my team enough for their outstanding fight to the end. Ray Garcia did an incredible job of making all the right calls on the bike’s set up. Now I can focus on setting more records and going faster with the Red Hat,” said Valerie.

From filmfischer via Youtube

Standing Mile

The fastest Valerie has been on her CTEK sponsored BMW was 212mph, earlier this year at the Texas Mile. She also set a record at the 208.719mph at the Ohio Mile in June.

She’s been all over the place setting records and an official member of the BUB Speed Trials 201 MPH Club, Mojave Magnum 200 MPH Club, Texas Mile 200 MPH Club, ECTA 200 MPH Club and a lifetime member of the prestigious Bonneville 200 MPH Club.

Understanding the Rules

Valerie's class MPS, stands for “Modified Production,” which also includes “Partial Streamlining” bikes. The rules as according to Southern California Timing Association states:

PARTIAL STREAMLINING - MODIFIED PRODUCTION - MPS
There shall be no streamlining forward of the front edge of the front rim. There shall be no streamlining other than a seat, tail section or fender to the rear of the rider’s body, and the seat, tail section or fender may not cover any of the wheel when viewed from the side. If a streamlined seat, tail section or fender is used it cannot extend further to the rear than a vertical line at the rear edge of the rear tire or be more than 36 inches from the ground with the rider seated on the bike.

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