Fireball stunt rider fuming as bike gets nicked hours before show

A DISBELIEVING daredevil turned up on the day of his big East Lothian show to find his stunt bike had been stolen.

Thieves somehow heaved Scott May's Honda over other vehicles before fleeing. Picture: Contributed

Thieves had somehow heaved Scott May’s Honda over other vehicles before fleeing from Fisherrow Links in Musselburgh.

Another rider and bike had to fill in on death-defying tricks, including jumping through fire and over buses during spectacular show.

Promoter Alec Marshall said of the daring theft: “We blocked it in with two trucks, two vans and a quad. They lifted the bike about five foot in the air and scraped the cab roof of the truck.

“Three of our lads tried to lift the other one and they were struggling and blowing hard. There must’ve been about four lads to do it.”

The Evening News reported last week how a summer motorbike crimewave is once again sweeping the Lothians, with joyriders terrorising neighbourhoods.

Two hooded youths were spotted on a BMW bike speeding through the city centre, including along Princes and George streets.

And a tourist’s bike was set alight after a delivery driver reported youths jumping red lights on a bike in Newington.

Shocked show staff turned up at 9am last Thursday to find Mr May’s bike missing, taken sometime after midnight.

Mr May has had the £2000 Honda CRF450 for eight years from new, with it becoming a key part of his popular show.

“Obviously in a stunt show it gets ridden quite hard, so we had to rebuild the engine six months ago,” Mr Marshall said.

“It’s had a lot spent on it over the years.”

But having used the bike to jump through rings of fire and over vehicles, the machine also has a special place in Mr May’s heart.

“It’s more about the sentimental value,” Mr Marshall said. “It’s Scott’s bike and in these shows it’s about knowing your bike.

“You need to know how it brakes, how it lands, how it goes in each gear. You’re jumping over buses and people.”

The show was only in town for a two-day run on Wednesday and Thursday before moving on to Armadale.

Despite the loss, Mr Marshall declared the tour would go on, with another rider and bike filling in for the stunts at Armadale on Friday and subsequent Scottish shows.

And despite the setback, Mr Marshall thanked Musselburgh fans for an “awesome” welcoming for the show.

“We’ve had a really good reception,” he said. “They were really good shows and this type of thing can happen anywhere.” Mr May now hopes the police can help track down his bike or that the thieves have a pang of conscience and hand it back.

“We’ve reported it to the police, but we know they’re understaffed and are struggling with more important things,” Mr Marshall said. “A bike can be replaced, but a life can’t.

“We just want the bike back if someone can let us know where it is. There’s no hidden agenda here.”

Police confirmed inquiries are ongoing to find whoever took Mr May’s bike.

A spokesman said: “Police Scotland has received a report of a theft of a motorbike from the Musselburgh area.”