Biker hit 116mph in rush-hour traffic madness

Matthew Greenwood, 34, was caught by police on a wet day at 9.13am racing at almost double the 60mph speed limit on a single carriageway through York.

The speed was the highest ever recorded by North Yorkshire Police’s mobile safety camera, and officers have described it as one of the worst cases of inappropriate and excessive speed ever seen in the county.

Greenwood, of Rainsborough Way, York, who had only owned his Suzuki GSXR 1000 for six months, pleaded guilty to speeding on October 31.

He was sentenced at Selby Magistrates’ Court yesterday and banned from the roads for three months, fined £395 and ordered to pay costs of £45 and £15.

Chairman of the bench Ron Humphreys said: “In North Yorkshire we have a large number of fatalities by people who ride motorcycles at an excessive speed. The road you were using is not meant for that speed.

“At that sort of speed any accident you could have been involved in could in all probability result in a fatality.”

Speaking after the hearing, Inspector Dave Brown, head of strategic roads policing at North Yorkshire Police, said: “This is one of the worst cases of inappropriate and excessive speed I have seen in 30 years of policing.

“Greenwood rode his bike at almost double the legal speed limit, in heavy, rush-hour traffic, and showed complete disregard for the safety of other road users.

“Greenwood should count himself lucky that he was not seriously injured, or standing before a judge and jury to answer far more serious charges.”