Aussie chasing world record with a difference

Imagine riding a motorcycle 250km/h-plus with your eyes closed or blindfolded.

Now consider this: Sydneysider Ben Felten is chasing a world record on his Suzuki Hayabusa in August 2015 to become the fastest blind person on a motorcycle. But the thing is that Ben won't be improvising or relying on a blindfold: he's completely blind.

He totally lost his vision at 37 -- he knew it would happen after a motorcycle accident 22 years saw him diagnosed with the degenerative eye disease retinitis pigmentosa  –  and with it his aspirations of being a top-flight motorcycle racer, but now he's determined to make his mark by supplanting the current blind record held by Briton Billy Baxter with an average top speed of 265.33km/h. Baxter set his record in August 2003.
For Ben to set a new benchmark, he must complete two runs, one in each direction, within one hour on a 2.15km long runway. The top speed is then averaged.

Ben will be supported by two chase riders, giving him directions and a chase car which will be filming the event. In effect, he's relying on words to get him through.

"Our target will be around 270km/h," says Ben. "Precision is going to be the key and it's really important when I take off that I get a nice, even start and that I am balanced and set up as quickly as possible.

"And then when the track cambers from left to right, I'll have to keep making adjustments just to keep it straight.

To help prepare for the record attempt, Ben has been training relentlessly with motoDNA Legend coach Kevin Magee at Sydney Motorsport Park, and he'll be heading out to the circuit again on April 10 for yet more tuition.

We'll keep you posted on Ben's preparation.