Matt Richardson Becomes Fastest Man on the Track – Shatters Flying 200m World Record

In a stunning display of raw speed, Great Britain’s Matt Richardson made history in Konya, Turkey, by becoming the first cyclist ever to complete the flying 200m in under nine seconds. He clocked a landmark time of 8.941 seconds, averaging 80.5 km/h, and instantly took his place among the fastest ever on two wheels.
Competing in a specially arranged session at the Konya Velodrome—situated at 1,200m altitude for thinner air and higher speeds—Richardson crushed the previous record of 9.088 seconds, set by Harrie Lavreysen at the Paris Olympics.

Richardson credited the achievement to impeccable execution and the power of his machine. He rode a custom-painted Hope‑Lotus HB.T track bike equipped with next‑generation 3D‑printed components. Reflecting on the run, he said riding it was “almost automatic” and that although he guided the bike, it felt like it “steered itself.”
It wasn’t the end for Richardson. Just 24 hours later, he returned to the velodrome and shaved a further 0.084 seconds, setting his own new benchmark at 8.857 seconds. His average speed on that run jumped to 81.3 km/h, confirming his intent not just to break records—but to leave them behind.
This was the culmination of a long quest. Richardson had briefly held the record during the Paris Olympics last year (riding for Australia) before it was immediately surpassed—but now, riding for Great Britain, he finally claimed and extended it.
For a sprint effort that doesn’t even carry a world‑championship title, the flying 200m demands a single, pure burst of speed—a “raw measure” of a rider’s top-end power and precision. Richardson’s feat isn’t just about speed—it’s a symbol of elite performance, a statement that the next frontier of track sprinting is now sub‑nine seconds.