Biker sentenced for 111mph wheelie

Sam Woodward's actions were caught on camera

The rider of a high-performance motorbike who was filmed doing a wheelie at 111mph (179 km/h) on the wrong side of the road has been given a suspended jail sentence.

Sam Woodward had a passenger on the back of his Yamaha YZF R-1 when he carried out the manoeuvre on the B1248 Beverley Road, near Norton-on-Derwent, in May, according to North Yorkshire Police.

The 27-year-old, from Driffield, then failed to stop for officers and later lied about his bike being stolen, police said.

He pleaded guilty to dangerous driving and at Scarborough Magistrates' Court on Monday he was given a 24-week jail sentence, suspended for a year, as well as being banned from driving for a year.

'Personal racing track'

Video footage of Woodward's driving showed him "tearing towards" a safety camera van on the evening of 31 May, North Yorkshire Police said.

He was seen riding on the wrong carriageway with the front wheel in the air while carrying a pillion passenger.

A few seconds later, he passed the camera at 111mph, the force said.

Sergeant Michael Ray said officers would not "tolerate drivers who use public roads as their own personal racing track".

"This standard of driving is very clearly unacceptable and Woodward put himself, his passenger and other road users at risk of serious injury or even death," he added.

Woodward was also ordered to carry out 200 hours of unpaid community work and pay £239 in costs and surcharges.

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