Back to bike rider caught recklessly speeding through roadworks is ‘sorry’ for ‘mindfart’
A motorbike rider out on his new bike after a decade-long lay off was enjoying one last blast before winter. But he forgot to put his brain in gear, riding through 40km/h roadworks at more than 100km/h.
South East
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A biker who raced his ride at more than 100km/h through 40km/h roadworks has described his own irresponsible speeding as a “mindfart”.
James Turnbull pleaded guilty to speeding at Dandenong Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday.
The court heard police in an unmarked car were driving along Bald Hill Rd in Nar Nar Goon when they saw the 52-year-old Coates Hire workshop manager fly past in the opposite direction at 1pm on May 19 this year.
Police did a U-turn and clocked him doing 110km/h in the roadwork zone.
A pursuit ensued, with police recording his bike doing 133km/h in a 100km/h zone before he slowed down to 120km/h after crossing into a 60km/h area.
Turnbull was intercepted and his new bike impounded for 30 days.
When officers asked him why he was doing such extreme speeds, he was honest with them.
“I’m just getting used to the bike, I had a mindfart basically,” he said.
“I was loving it (speeding), but I understand I should have backed off.”
In court Turnbull’s defence lawyer said he accepted his conduct had been dangerous, but this behaviour was out of character.
She said her client had ridden bikes 11 years ago and had recently bought a new one two weeks prior, and was still getting used to its digital speedo.
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But Magistrate Sharon McRae said people like Turnbull — middle-aged men who got back onto bikes after a long lay-off — were disproportionately represented in the road toll.
She said of the 30 motorcycle deaths this year a high number were men aged in their 50s who decided to get back on a bike.
“It’s absolutely terrifying, it’s frightening, it’s a recipe for disaster for you and other road users,” Ms McRae said.
“If someone had of stepped out they would have had no hope against a motorbike travelling that fast.
“The risk involved in riding new motorcycles is very, very high; this will be a very expensive ride for you.”
But she said Turnbull’s very good driving history and lack of criminal priors were factors in his favour.
Turnbull was fined $600 and ordered to do a safe driving program and his licence was suspended for 12 months.