Daredevil biker dragged behind motorcycle at fastest speed to break idol's record

A daredevil biker was dragged at top speed behind his motorcycle to break a world record that’s stood for 25 years.

Jonny Davies (UK) hit a blistering 256.72 km/h (159.52 mph) while clinging to the back of his modified Kawasaki Ninja H2 SX and skidding along the tarmac at Elvington Airfield, in Yorkshire, on 18 August to claim the title for fastest speed dragged behind a motorcycle.

Wearing specially designed titanium shoes, he overtook the record of 251.54 km/h (156.3 mph) that had been set by Gary Rothwell (UK) back in 1999.

This high octane video shows him building his speed before climbing off the back of his bike and planting his feet on the ground.

It was a particularly poignant moment for Jonny who has considered Rothwell one of his idols since he was young.

See Rothwell's record here:

Jonny, from Peterlee in County Durham, told the Yorkshire Post: “I knew it was the fastest I had ever gone because the wind was so strong. My foot actually came off the floor because the wind went under it - it was a feeling I had never felt before, even in practice.

"When I found out I had done it, the emotions came flooding in. Everyone was cheering and it was a really great atmosphere, the emotions were running and so were the tears."

Jonny performed his record-breaking stunt at The Ultimate Supercar Show with thousands of motorsports fans watching after training hard to emulate his idol’s success.

He also told Motorcycle News: “I think I hit 110 mph before climbing off the back and I wasn’t even perfectly straight to be honest. As soon as I lined up, I just hit full throttle, and I just did not let off.

“It was just a blurry, bumpy ride. My left foot began getting airborne because the boots are obviously turned up at the toes and the air got under it and it actually came off the floor for a little bit.

“It was pretty chaotic, but the bike was just super stable. The Ninja H2 SX was an absolute machine, perfect for the job. I’m just overwhelmed with the whole situation. It’s been some build-up, and finally to have broken the record, it feels pretty good.”

This isn’t his only stunt record.

The two-time British stunt riding champion also jointly holds the record for most donuts (spins) around a motorcycle performing a wheelie in one minute with Paul Swift (UK) with a total of 10.

He also previously held the record for fastest motorcycle handlebar wheelie at 175.785 km/h (109.228 mph).