FOUR BIKERS are facing prison sentences after their friend - also on a motorcycle - was killed while performing a high-speed wheelie.
The four have been convicted of dangerous driving but were acquitted of causing the death of Martin Firth, of Beal. They have also been banned from driving, says a report in the Selby Post.
Mr Firth was thrown from his machine at the end of the Sherburn in Elmet bypass in October.
Paul Andrew Backhouse, 48, of Thorne Lane, Pontefract, Andre Holland, 35, of Carlton Road, Pontefract, Peter Jackson, 48, of Hillside, Byram, and Kevin Moreton, 49, of Sowgate Lane Ferrybridge, will be sentenced in the new year.
The men denied travelling faster than 90mph on their 145-mile journey, even though a Police motorcyclist, who renacted the route, failed to cover the distance in the same time - even though he clocked over 100mph several times.
The Police's actions have thrown up strong debate as to the safety of using a rider to reconstruct the route at high speed.
Warning the men they could be jailed, Recorder of York Judge Stephen Ashurst said theirs was a very serious case of dangerous driving, an banned them from driving any vehicle.
