200mph bid halted by technical hitch
TECHNICAL problems with his motorcycle thwarted rider Martin McConnell on Saturday when he took to the Tarmac at Elvington during a land speed racing event.
The aim was to try and break the 200mph barrier, but it soon emerged that much work is needed on the second-hand machine before it achieves that goal.
Joining Mr McConnell in the UK were islanders Dave Prevel and James Larbalestier.
The bike is a turbocharged Suzuki Hayabusa and it has been decked out in livery supporting the charity Ex Forces PTSD, which helps ex-servicemen with post traumatic stress disorder.
Mr Larbalestier runs JL Innovation, which has partnered with the charity to work on the bike, and he said that its runs at Elvington took place before it had come to Guernsey for mechanical and development work.
Mr Prevel is an ex-serviceman and biker himself and is Mr McConnell’s partner in the charity, which this year is fundraising for three ex-servicemen and their families to have a holiday in Jersey through Holidays for Heroes.
‘Martin had bought a second hand-bike as a basis for the project and we wanted to give it a shakedown before it comes over for the winter,’ said Mr Larbalestier.
‘But we’ve been plagued by problems which culminated in the chain coming off the bike on the last run and causing damage to the engine.
‘Martin is totally safe, that’s the main thing. It’s just minor mechanical issues with the bike which are due to the fact that we’ve not had a chance to work on it because Martin’s just bought it.
‘We need to get it back to Guernsey,’ added Mr Larbalestier. ‘We’re going to take it apart and get it absolutely perfect for next year.’
It is hoped that the bike will be ready for another run in April or May.
Mr Larbalestier said he hoped Guernsey people would get behind the fundraising efforts, which will involve work being done for free by local engineers. ‘It’s showcasing what Guernsey can do,’ he said.
More information can be found at www.facebook.com/groups/exforcesptsd/ and www.facebook.com/JLinnovationgsy/.
