Thieves have jeopardised top motorcyclist Robin Appleyard's chances of a record sixth British championship.

Specially-designed racing equipment was stolen from his car outside his home in the Spring Gardens area of Keighley on Saturday night. The haul included two sets of automatic gear-changing systems, unique to his vehicle, which he was testing for the Honda Racing Company.

Robin, pictured above, five times British 125cc motorcycling champion, says: "The first race of the new British championship is this weekend at Brands Hatch. If I do not get this equipment back, it will be a serious blow to my chances of winning the first round in my bid to reach a record sixth championship."

He is appealing to the thieves to return the equipment - which was packed in two small white boxes with the word 'Schneider' written on one side - anonymously to Keighley police station or to either of Colin Appleyard's Keighley showrooms.

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