The Courier & Advertiser (Fife Edition)
111mph biker fist-pumps as he avoids ban
Abiker clocked riding at 111 miles per hour punched the air with joy after a sheriff spared him a driving ban.
Andy McKenzie, 51, celebrated on the court steps after being allowed to stay on the road.
He claimed that he had become “alarmed” by a pair of cars which pulled alongside him.
McKenzie, who had been charged by police with dangerous driving, had four penalty points imposed on his driving licence by Sheriff Alastair Carmichael.
When he appeared in the dock at Perth Sheriff Court yesterday, team manager McKenzie, of Chesser Loan, Edinburgh, admitted an amended charge of careless driving.
He admitted driving his motorbike at excessive speed, up to 111mph, on the M90 Perth to Edinburgh motorway near Gairneybridge on August 15 last year.
Fiscal depute Andrew Harding said: “It was dusk, so visibility was reduced. The road surface was dry and there was moderate traffic.
“It was 9.15pm. There were a number of slowermoving vehicles on the road.”
Solicitor Joe MacPherson, defending, said his client had deliberately put his foot down to get away after other motorists pulled alongside him.
“On the evening he had been out on his motorcycle,” he told the court.
“He enjoys riding for pleasure. It is odd someone of his age would be doing this speed.
“Two cars came up quickly behind him and one pulled beside him.
“They were flashing their lights and one of the drivers was gesturing at him.
“The one which had been beside him accelerated ahead and then braked.
“It didn’t cause him reason to brake but he was alarmed and accelerated to get away.
“He reached this speed and then self-corrected. He put distance between him and the cars behind but he wasn’t entitled to do that.”
Mr MacPherson said McKenzie was an active father of two and asked the court to take into account his client’s previous “excellent” driving record.
“He is otherwise of very good character,” he said.
Sheriff Carmichael said: “I am going to give you the benefit of the doubt.”
He imposed four points and fined McKenzie £200.
As he left court, McKenzie broke into a broad smile and double fist-pumped in celebration.