New World Wheelie motorcycle champ hits 318kmph

The 2015 World Wheelie Championship which was organised in North Yorkshire, UK gave thousands of spectators a chance to witness some high-octane antics at the Elvington Airfield. Riders from several countries competed for the fastest wheelie over a distance of 1 kilometre.

The tenth edition of the Wheelie Championship saw 30 specialists from Finland, France, Holland, Ireland, Sweden, UK and USA go against the speed traps for a shot at the title. The fastest rider is the one who can do a full 1km on the back wheel of his motorcycle.

Gary Rothwell from UK bagged the title of the 2015 World Wheelie Champion by clocking 318.455kmph on his turbocharged Suzuki Hayabusa at the end of his run. In this process he managed to beat last year’s winner, Egbert Van Popta from Holland, who clocked 315.118kmph, also onboard a Hayabusa turbo. The third-fastest wheeler was Irishman Paddy O’Sullivan, who did the 305.423kmph.

Becci Ellis became the world's fastest woman, also on a turbo Hayabusa in the outright speed race. Her record stands at 417.603kmph, even though she was later involved in a high-speed crash. According to reports, a strong gust of wind destabilised her bike and forced her upright on the bike. The rider and the machine then veered off the runway into the nearby field at around 370kmph. She miraculously escaped with a broken ankle and bruised ribs. Becci became the fourth-fastest person in the world in her class.