Motocross champ, 10, 'heartbroken' after bike stolen hours before competition
A 10-YEAR-OLD reigning British motocross champion was 'heartbroken' after thieves stole his bike hours before he was due to take part in a national trials competition.
Talented youth champ Billy Green, who lives with his parents Colin and Louise in Newton Abbot, had his Beta machine ripped out of their van.
Thieves struck when Billy and his parents stopped overnight at a West Yorkshire Premier Inn as they travelled to the Auto Cycle Union British Trials Championship.
West Yorkshire police have confirmed they are investigating.
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Billy, a member of Moretonhampstead and District Motorcycle Club, has been riding a bike since the age of four and has won British titles in the last three years.
He was due to compete in the Class C medium wheels national trials championship in Tong, Bradford, on Saturday.
The Decoy Primary School pupil — considered to be a rising star on the racing circuit — had already secured the winner's title having scored the maximum amount of points available in the previous five rounds.
Colin said: "We didn't need to go because he had already won — he'd dominated the competition in all the rounds — but wanted to end on a high."
While they dined in the restaurant on Friday at around 5pm thieves broke into their white Peugeot Expert panel van and stole Billy's chained-down Beta 80, his riding kit including a helmet and his dad's tool box.
All that was left behind was Billy's riding boots.
Colin, 40, said: "We were staying there overnight. We were only 10-metres away from the van — I could see it out the window. We went into the restaurant for some food and that is when it happened. CCTV showed a car circling the van at 5.10pm.
"The bike was chained down but that didn't stop them. Everything was taken except his boots.
"Billy was absolutely heartbroken, he was sobbing his heart out."
Insurance does not cover the cost because it was in transit at the time of the theft, Colin said.
The Green family returned to Newton Abbot early on Saturday after telling the organisers Billy was unable to compete.
Specialist trials clothing supplier Trials UK gave the youngster some clothing and kit at cost price and Billy has another bike he can ride in the meantime, Colin said.
"That was really helpful for us. Billy seems to be handling it better now. A lot of people say that, when they see him ride, he definitely has got that special something."
A West Yorkshire police spokesman confirmed an investigation was under way.
He said: "On Friday, September 14, an off-road bike secured in a Peugeot van was reported to have been stolen from outside a Premier Inn in Bradford.
"Officers have viewed CCTV from the area and inquiries are currently ongoing to trace those responsible."
Comments
by omnivore23
Thursday, September 20 2012, 7:26PM
“why must you ask that?”
by spindles12
Thursday, September 20 2012, 4:01PM
“Not a good thing to be robbed, especially when a young talented boy is involved but I must ask:-
Was the van absolutely plain white or did it have any sign writing on it indicating what was likely to be inside? Quite often the vehicles belonging to car or cycle teams or individuals have their name and various other information on them which is a good way of advertising what's inside the van to anyone looking to steal.”