LR Peterlee Town Council Winter 2020 - Flipbook - Page 15
Local Interest
Local lad
performs
death
defying
stunt and
breaks
world
record
Congratulaons to successful
Neighbourhood Engagement Project
applicant Jonny Davies, who recently broke
a world record by performing a wheelie….
while sing on his handlebars!
The stunt rider, 28, who was born and raised
in Peterlee, rst applied for a
Neighbourhood Engagement Project grant
in June 2018 to help with repairs to his bike
which would allow him to connue
performing for free at local schools. He
again applied in January 2020, to help him
with purchasing a new, faster bike, allowing
him to enter compeons.
Performing the death-defying stunt in North
Yorkshire, at the Motorcycle Wheelie World
Championship at Elvington Aireld on 15th
August 2020, Jonny reached an amazingly
impressive speed of 109.2mph, smashing
the previous record of 108mph.
“I set o at the top of the 2-mile runway at
Elvington aireld, aer I’m in second gear I
climb onto the petrol tank and swing both
legs around the handlebars. I then iniate
the wheelie at around 85mph, balancing the
throle, brake, and lean angle. Once I reach
around 95mph, I shi into third gear using a
thumb operated push buon. When I have
crossed the line, I try to land as smoothly as
possible.”
Although Jonny managed to reach speeds of
122mph during one of his pracces, strong
winds on the day made it dicult to go
faster. But I think we can all agree,
performing a wheelie at 109mph while
sing on your handlebars is impressive
enough and Jonny agrees: “I was happy with
my aempt as I believe that was as fast as
the condions would allow. However, I sll
would like my pracce speeds to be my
ocial speed. I am sll aiming for 124mph.”
When asked when he became interested in
stunt riding and how he gets the courage to
perform these kinds of stunts, he said “I
become interested in stunt riding around
the age of 4. My parents oen took me to
motor shows where I would watch Dave
Coates or Gary Rothwell perform live shows.
I used to pracce wheelies on my bicycle
and o-road motorcycles, but never thought
it would lead to stunt riding. At 20 years old,
I nished my apprenceship and started
saving, then at 22 I bought my rst
designated stunt bike.
This year was the rst me I have truly
enjoyed my compeon, as unl this year
the stress used to overpower the
enjoyment. Now I have more experience I
really enjoy them. I just wish there were
more to enter in the U.K.”
Speaking to his partner, Tanya I asked how
she felt on the day of the compeon and
how she copes with the dangerous hobby
Jonny has chosen. She said: “I was very
anxious on the day, but I knew Jonny would
have loved me and our son there to support
him achieving the world record. My way of
coping I suppose, is to stay as oblivious as I
can to avoid worrying too much about the
danger element of it, I trust Jonny is very
skilled and good at what he does!
Jonny ‘Stunter Jonny’ Davies aer compleng
the stunt at the Motorcycle Wheelie World
Championship at Elvington Aireld
So, what’s next for the current Brish and
Scosh stunt riding champion? “For now, I
am going to keep pushing my freestyle stunt
riding. I am organising some printed hoodies
and t-shirts for anyone interested in
purchasing one. I am hoping once the Covid
situaon seles down, I will get some live
show bookings, where I can do what I love
and entertain a crowd. I am also hoping to
create some professional video content,
which will hopefully enable me to aract
new sponsors.”
Space to pracce is hard to come by
because there are a lot of factors to
consider. It needs to be far away enough
from people’s homes and schools, with a
good, at, tarmac, or concrete surface and
the goal is to be able to have people
pracce alongside him. Should you own a
space like this, and you would be interested
in working with Jonny on a sponsorship
deal, please get in touch with him via his
social media pages ‘JD Stunts’.
Photographs courtesy of Paul Fishwick
Photography.
Peterlee 15