Above: Checking the bolts on the planing surface’s
mounting brackets, which stood up to far more
punishment than they were designed to take.

We kept at it and then Charlie decided that

we might stand a better chance if we adjusted

the planing surface’s angle of attack slightly.

Working at the edge of the trench in the

sunshine, I helped the lads unbolt the planing

surface from the bike but, to get it to sit exactly

as Charlie wanted it, after all of that precision

engineering, in the end it came down to using

what is often called the ‘universal adjustment

tool’ – a big hammer!

Once Charlie was happy with the planing

surface, I stuck my helmet back on and, while

the TV crew got themselves into position, Hugh

Hunt fed me crisps through the bottom of the

186  hydroplaning motorbike

helmet – it’s not easy having a snack when

you’re wearing a full-face motorcycle helmet.

With everybody ready, I kicked the bike into

life and rumbled up to the start point. This

time I went for it flat out, and when I hit the

water I went from juddering across the field to

a sudden, smooth glide along the surface of the

trench. I had time to ease back on the throttle

and maintained the hydroplane right up to the

end of the trench. Now we knew that, under

the right circumstances, our Suzuki could

hydroplane beautifully. It was a grand way to

end the afternoon.

Below: The Osprey

divers deliver the Suzuki

ready for it to be stripped

down and drained again

to get the lake out of

its innards.

Right: Even when I was

soaking wet after being

ducked in the lake,

I couldn’t resist helping

to strip down the bike.