Claire Lomas: Paralysed woman nervous for superbike challenge

Claire Lomas had never ridden a motorcycle prior to her accident

A woman who is paralysed from the chest down is due to ride a superbike around a nine-mile (14.4km) road race course.

Claire Lomas, from Melton Mowbray, Leicestershire, was paralysed in a horse-riding accident in 2007.

She is set to take on a lap of the North West 200 (NW200) racecourse in Northern Ireland.

The 43-year-old, who completed the 2012 London Marathon in a robotic suit, said she was nervous but ready to take on the challenge.

Ms Lomas was appointed an MBE in 2017 for her fundraising efforts

Ms Lomas has already raised more than £850,000 for charity, with her latest challenge aiming to raise funds for the Nicholls Spinal Injury Foundation (NSIF).

The challenge was due to take place on Thursday but has been postponed until Saturday.

Ms Lomas said the weather forecast was predicting fine weather for the rescheduled date.

She said: "I am feeling nervous but ready to take on the challenge.

"It will be more bumpy than on a track, which is my only bike experience. To others I will look slow but it will feel fast to me.

"Leaving my wheelchair behind whilst riding a powerful bike is something I never thought would be possible when I became paralysed from the chest down."

She suffered broken ribs, a punctured lung, a broken neck, a broken back, and the spinal cord injury that left her paralysed.

Her motorbike has been adapted with straps stopping her knees from flapping in the wind and toe clips securing her feet to foot plates.

The mother-of-two will take on the route, which connects the towns of Portrush, Portstewart and Coleraine, in between two professional superbike races.

A specialist shifter allows her to change gears using only her hands

She had never ridden a motorbike prior to her accident and since learning has limited her outings to tracks like Donington Park.

"I've only ever been around a track, so to be riding on the road will be very different for me," she added.

"The road will be a lot bumpier, there's curbs and there will be thousands of people watching - it's going to be an incredible challenge.

"I am very honoured to have been given the opportunity to take it on."

Mervyn Whyte, of the NW200, said: "What Claire has achieved is remarkable and we will be delighted to welcome her to the North West 200.

"Her determination and courage are an inspiration to everyone."