Monaco-based Venturi Group, through its Voxan brand, has played a pivotal role in helping Ohio State University (OSU) set four new world speed records.
The records were set from 25th to 29th August at the legendary Bonneville Salt Flats in Utah, USA. The event also coincided with the 15th anniversary of the partnership between Venturi and OSU, which has seen them collaborate on designing and building record-breaking vehicles over the years.
Venturi’s contribution was essential in the creation of the electric motorcycle, the Ohio State RW-5 Voxan, used by the OSU Buckeye Current Team to achieve these world records. The Venturi Group’s engineering department provided expertise in key areas such as design, suspension, battery technology, transmission, and optimisation of the motorcycle’s settings and stability.
The electric motorcycle, piloted by Louis-Marie Blondel, who is also the Head of Engineering at Venturi, set four new world speed records in the electric motorcycle category (under 150 kilograms). Two of the records were achieved without a fairing, with the motorcycle reaching 271.515 km/h over one kilometre and 271.323 km/h over one mile.
See also: Voxan Wattman breaks world-record speeds, again
With a fairing, the motorcycle reached even higher speeds, setting records of 289.787 km/h for one kilometre and 289.738 km/h for one mile. These records are pending validation by the Fédération Internationale Motocycliste (FIM).
The Monegasque team at Venturi was instrumental in the success of this project, providing technical support throughout the design phase and assisting during the record-breaking attempts. Blondel, who had previously set six records with Venturi’s Wattman motorcycle, once again demonstrated his skills, taking control of the RW-5 Voxan to achieve these latest world-class performances.
Gildo Pastor, President of Venturi Group, highlighted that the collaboration between Ohio State University and Venturi has now resulted in nine world speed records. “Four new world speed records is a fantastic gift to mark the 15th anniversary of our collaboration,” said Pastor. “Ohio State University and Venturi Group already held five records, and we are now at nine. See you soon for the tenth!”
This latest success builds on Venturi’s history in breaking speed records. In 2020-2021, Venturi designed and developed the Voxan Wattman, which set 24 records in its category, with legendary riders such as Max Biaggi and Blondel at the helm.
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Main photo: Buckeye Current Team and Voxan racer Louis-Marie Blondel, source: Voxan Motors