Speedracer racks up $10k in fines after mixing up licence suspension

A DARWIN motorbike racer banned from the road for going 75km/h over the limit has returned to court on driving charges

Reece Tjung, pictured riding a motorbike and inset, was busted speeding at 175km/h Pictures: Facebook

A DARWIN motorcycle racer banned from the road after being clocked at 175km/h in a 100km/h zone has racked up more than $10,000 in fines after misunderstanding the length of his disqualification.

Reece Taylor Tjung had his licence suspended for three months in May last year after reaching the “horrifying” speed on the Stuart Hwy following an event at the Hidden Valley racetrack.

Tjung’s licence was due to expire shortly afterwards and he was given a $1340 on the spot fine for riding unlicensed and unregistered in April.

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Police again spotted Tjung on his bike at Hidden Valley on June 23 and he pleaded guilty in the Darwin Local Court to riding an unregistered, uninsured vehicle without a licence.

He was eligible to get back on the road last August.

Tjung told the court he knew he didn’t have a licence when he rode the bike but had to move it into a shed after a plan to trailer it home fell through.

“The person that was supposed to trailer the vehicle home was unable to so I pushed the bike up Hidden Valley Rd,” he said.

“I couldn’t push the bike up a hill so I started it and rode to the top of the hill.”

When Tjung told judge Tanya Fong Lim he was “on good behaviour” for the speeding conviction and planned to get his licence back “soon”, Ms Fong Lim explained his disqualification had ended almost a year ago.

“I thought it was six months that’s the only reason I haven’t gone back to get it,” he said.

Tjung already owed $10,353 in unpaid fines, despite taking home almost $5000 a fortnight but told the court he had recently started a payment plan.

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In adding another $1200 fine and $450 in victims’ levies to Tjung’s debt, Ms Fong Lim warned him to pay up.

“You were already given an on the spot fine for driving unlicensed and an unregistered vehicle and yet a month later you do it again, you need to start taking notice of the law,” she said.

“Make sure you pay your fines otherwise the next time you come before this court you may well be disqualified.”