Today in motorcycle history, January 4, 2002

  American Suzuki Motor Corporation unveils it's GSX-R/4 concept car at the Los Angeles Auto Show. 

  The "Formula Hayabusa" -- designed for a new Japanese one-make competition series -- is an open-wheel, ultra-light race car built to showcase Suzuki's advanced automotive and motorcycle engineering, and the firm's ability to build affordable high-performance products. The race car -- powered by the engine of the fastest mass-produced street motorcycle in history, the GSX1300R Hayabusa -- has 175 horsepower at 9,800 rpm, with speeds of up to 194mph, generated with the help of double overhead cams, 16 valves, an 11:1 compression ratio, liquid-cooling and electronic fuel injection. Perfect for a quick trip to the store for a 6-pack and chips at half-time.

  By the way, Hayabusa is Japanese for "peregrine falcon", one of the world's fastest birds.  They also just happen to prey on blackbirds which was what Suzuki's original target was, the Honda CBR1100XX Super Blackbird.  The CBR1100XX was the World's Fastest Production Motorcycle until the Hayabusa (GSX1300R) blew it out of the water by more than 10mph.