MOTORBIKING grandmaster Dougie Lampkin has successfully wheelied around the Isle of Man TT course, keeping up on his back wheel for 37.7 miles despite strong winds.

The 12 times World Trials champion from Silsden was forced to postpone his unique challenge, which was scheduled for Saturday, due to 55 mile per hour gusts.

But the 40-year-old star set off at 5pm yesterday in bright sunshine and nailed the Snaefell mountain circuit in one hour 35 minutes.

The whole feat was shown live on Red Bull TV as he rode his modified bike with a larger fuel tank, extra foot rests and a small electric motor keeping the front wheel spinning to give a gyroscopic effect and aid balance.

Speaking after crossing the line and showering spectators with celebration champagne, Mr Lampkin told Red Bull TV: “It feels fantastic. The last 15 seconds were really lovely. The rest of it was a challenge!

"I feel absolute massive relief, the build up to it, seven months of planning, everything that's gone on, like the nightmare with the weather yesterday and still strong winds today on top of the mountain – I was just hanging on really.

"It wasn't over until a couple of metres from the end but that last couple of metres was just amazing."

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