Richard Gray has his bikes stolen!

A promising motocross talent fears he may have to quit the sport after thieves stole £13,000 of equipment from his Melton home.
Richard Gray is one part of a motocross-mad family – his two younger brothers Phil and Nick and cousin Jack all compete – but last week’s break-in at their workshop has left him furious and fearing the worst.

To lose £13,000 in one hit is a massive blow for an amateur competitor, and particularly in a sport such as motocross where prizemoney is sparse.

Thieves stole a Kawasaki KXF 250 which belongs to brother Phil, which was to be used as a spare for Saturday’s big event, as well as two bikes belonging to his 13-year-old brother Nick, one an early Christmas present.

Two motocross helmets and bike parts, including a fuel tank, were also taken in the raid in the early hours of November 24.

Richard said: “We think they were going to take the race bike as well, but I woke up for work and disturbed them.

“We might have to give up as things have turned out. It is a lot of money to lose.

“My dad had just spent £2,000 on a new bike for my brother for Christmas and he hadn’t even ridden it yet. He was going to sell Nick’s other bike to pay for the new one.

“It is not just a sport, it is a way of life for me.

“Every night of the week I’m getting my bike cleaned up or going to the gym or out for a run to stay fit for riding at the weekends.
“When something like this happens it just makes you think is it worth carrying on if it’s going to happen again?”

Richard, a Nottingham-based maintenance engineer, knows of six or seven similar thefts of motocross bikes in recent years in the area.

The only piece of fortune was that his race bike was in bits in preparation for last Saturday’s British Supercross Championships and was left, allowing him to compete.

Richard took up the sport relatively late as a 16-year-old, prompting his two brothers and then his cousin to follow in his tyre tracks.

He has graduated up to the top level of amateur racing and last year came fifth in the British Masters.

And he was determined not to allow it to affect his racing on Saturday, having recently signed a new sponsorship deal with Corby Kawasaki and Kenny UK.

He failed to qualify for the first final at the Birmingham NEC, but came roaring back in the other final, finishing in fifth having led the race at one point.

Richard added: “It was the first time I went to the Supercross as a serious competitor and it didn’t turn out too bad. The second race could’ve been even better because I was leading it, but I went back to third and made a couple of daft mistakes.”

*The missing Kawasaki KXF 250 has graphics which carry his name along with red handlebars, Talon wheels with a black rim and gold hubs, and the number 59.

The other missing bikes are a Kawasaki KX85 small wheel version with the number 374, and a 2007 Honda 150F with Pro Circuit graphics.

*Anyone with information should contact Melton police on (0116) 222 2222 or call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111.

Tags: kawasaki, melton, richard gray, stolen bikes