Watch blind, disabled biker set speed record

Scottish motorcyclist Stuart Gunn is a fighter. Eleven years ago a bike accident – when a van crashed into him – left him paralysed from the waist down and along his right side. Four years ago, ongoing complications from the accident resulted in a seizure that left him completely blind. A few days ago he set a world speed record, hitting nearly 270kmh.

His verified taking of the World Land Speed Record for a blind motorcyclist was undertaken at Elvington Airfield in the UK’s North Yorkshire area, where he piloted a Suzuki Hayabusa to 268.9kmh. In doing so, he beat the record of 265.3 held for the past 10 years by blind rider Billy Baxter.

And according to the official Suzuki Bulletin, Gunn managed to set the new world time while battling strong crosswinds at the airfield, and raised funds for several charities in the process. During the record attempt, Gunn’s father rode beside him, using a helmet intercom to keep him on a straight line, advising him when to steer -- and to brake at the end.

“I was surprised to hear I’d done it,” Gunn told the Suzuki Bulletin. “I hope this proves to people that just because you are blind or have a disability, doesn’t mean it should change or limit your life.”

He also revealed he is planning another challenge – racing a lap in the famed and treacherous International Isle of Man TT (Tourist Trophy) Race, saying that he’d dreamed of doing it since he was a child.

“I want to do the TT, definitely. That’s my main goal; I love it,” he said. “I think maybe a year or year and half to figure out the entire track to get safely round. Being in the dark makes it easy for me to work things out, so I can concentrate on learning that and aim for 2014 hopefully.”

This reporter is on Twitter: @KarlaPincott

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