Weaver: 'Complete genius but hopeless' ©Paul Gracey

In Markham's eyes, Matt Weaver is the outsider. He describes the former engineering scholar at the University of California at Berkeley as: "A complete wildcard."

"He's also a complete genius but his mental and physical preparation coming into races is probably his undoing. Whereas somebody like me excelled in the day of the event, he sometimes even has a hard time even getting his vehicle on the track.

"Based on all the results we've seen to date, the guy is hopeless. He's just so ill-prepared for making attempts.

"Last year, his speed was about 104kph/65mph but he claimed he went between 85-90mph (136-144kph). That's absurd - he doesn't even have a speedometer on his bike!

"It's one of the biggest fish stories I've ever heard! It's like, 'you want to back that up with some proof now or what?'

"But he certainly has what are probably the most technologically advanced vehicles I've ever seen. He's designed and built them himself, they're slick and if he can get out there and put together a good run I like his chances.

"What he needs to do is put a real bike racer in his vehicle and sit back as a bike maker and take the glory when it comes. But he wants to do it all himself. However, I have a feeling that one of these days it's probably going to connect for him.

"Overall, I'm going to go with Whittingham rather than Queally just because I believe he will go faster if he gets the opportunity."

But Markham is very confident about his own chances and is adamant he's not just there to make up the numbers.

"I would back myself to beat Whittingham. Generally speaking, my tandem has been faster than the Varna [Whittingham's bike] because it has more horsepower. And if this course pans out I believe that tandem could be the fastest thing out there again because it's kind of a beast.

 

	Battle Mountain course: 8km run-up ©Sean Costin

"It goes fast and this is one of those courses that will probably favor my tandem because the longer the run-up the better."

At Battle Mountain, the run-up is expected to be in the region of 8km/5 miles.

"This is one of those areas where weight isn't necessarily your enemy, so I like my chances too.

"If things go right, I think this racecourse is perfect for it and it's a good opportunity for me to become the fastest man in the world.

"But above all, I look at it as a really unique time. Never before will you see a bunch of fast vehicles there, each with so much potential. As long as the weather's good, the record will fall."

- Ash Potterton