Motorcycles

World record 213 mph wheelie crowns new World Champion

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Less than a year after the world record for a kilo wheelie was broken, Egbert Van Popta set the bar even higher
Phil Evans
Cecil "Bubba" Myers about to start his run with his turbo-charged Kawasaki ZX-10R
Worldreach
Less than a year after the world record for a kilo wheelie was broken, Egbert Van Popta set the bar even higher
Phil Evans
Egbert Van Popta elated after winning the championship with a new world record
Worldreach
Gary Rothwell (left) congratulates the winner, Egbert Van Popta (right) after his record-setting run
Worldreach
Trevor Duckworth (left), the heart and mind of the Straightliners, informs the winner, Egbert Van Popta (right), on his new world record
Worldreach
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The 11th World Wheelie Championship ended on a high note after Egbert Van Popta set a new world record on his way to the title. His 213 mph (343 km/h) exit speed after a full kilometer on the back wheel was enough to edge Gary Rothwell's previous record of 210 mph (337 km/h) from last September.

Organized by the Straightliners, the eleventh edition of the World Wheelie Championship was hosted at the Elvington Airfield in Yorkshire, UK. More than 30 competitors from several countries contested the one-kilometer (0.62 mi) airstrip on their back wheel in an effort to exit with the highest possible speed.

During the last few years the event has been dominated by two champions and their turbo-charged Suzuki Hayabusas; Gary Rothwell from UK won last year, taking the title from 2014 winner Egbert Van Popta from Holland. Their duel regularly occupies the top two spots of the championship and has evolved into a world record fight.

Last September it was Rothwell who managed to set a new record of 209.822 mph (337.676 km/h), setting the stage for this year's showdown where Van Popta retaliated. He started with a 214.669 mph (345.5 km/h) attempt that was later declared invalid because his front wheel touched the ground before his motorcycle had cleared the speed sensors at the finish line. His next run would clock 213.309 mph (343.3 km/h), still enough for a shiny new world record.

Unlike last year, Rothwell couldn't achieve more than 206.049 mph (331.6 km/h) in his two runs, landing comfortably at the runner-up spot. Third place went to Cecil "Bubba" Myers from Minneapolis, who in his third participation at the Championship wheelied his Kawasaki ZX-10R to a perfectly round 197 mph (317 km/h).

Apart from the star competitors, Straightliners's events are meant to encourage the average rider to join the fun. More than 30 participants stood on the start line of the Elvington airstrip, as 15 of them managed to get their names on the official books with a complete kilometer wheelie. Among them Kimberly Davy Schyven from Holland missed out on the opportunity to become the first-ever female rider to register in the official results, as her 141.518 mph (227.7 km/h) did not count because her front wheel had touched the ground half-track.

Enjoy Van Popta's record run as captured from two cameras on board his 500+ hp Hayabusa, courtesy of Take Van Popta.

Source: Straightliners

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3 comments
Michael Wilson
very nice. The rider must have nerves of steel
KeithPhillips
The rider must be nuts to even attempt this record come of at that speed and your dead!
VincentBrennan
Riders get hurt or killed by sudden stops not speed. As long as there is plenty of room around the track to slide he will a little burned and banged but will probably WALK away. Cut that speed in half and have an unprotected wall ot post or anything like that he is likely dead. I have seen riders get off at practically the same speed and slide for a while and get up.
I was flagging at the old Ontario Motor Speedway and saw a guy get off. Bounced as high as the catch fence (15 ft? or so) come down and slide. I thought he was likely dead. Ambulance crew told me he MIGHT have a broken wrist.
Same day I saw a guy hit the wall at maybe 90mph. He got up, ran across the track, sat down and DIED.
Speed does not kill. Sudden stops kill.