Brave biker completes lap of Mallory Park 13 years on from life changing racing accident

A former motorcycle club racer from Staffordshire has returned to Mallory Park to complete a lap, 13 years on from a horror accident at Gerard’s Bend that left him unable to walk.

Having defied the odds to regain his mobility, Mark Sewell, 58, from Cheadle lapped the circuit on Saturday, July 6 during the circuit’s Mallory Bike Bonanza weekend – using the same Honda CB500 he raced on the day of the incident in July 2011.

“When I arrived it brought a hell of a lot of emotions back and we just occupied ourselves by getting the bikes out, taking them down to scrutineering,” Mark told MCN after completing his ride.

Sewell used the number 13 during his club racing career and hadn’t returned to the Leicestershire venue since the incident. He spent time prior to the weekend recommissioning the bike, and even wore the same leathers to face the challenge.

“Before we went out on track, I couldn’t stop my legs shaking,” he explained. “When I was cleaning the bike up, I found the sticker on from when I was last here. That was a real knock as well.”

The accident left Mark unable to ride motorcycles for nine-and-a-half years, and also forced the closure of three companies he was running. He’s now happily retired and gets his riding thrills from a Kawasaki VN1600 cruiser.

“Last night, the scrutineer gave me a new sticker to commemorate the comeback,” Sewell continued. “It’s been quite emotional leading up to it, but I feel like a weight’s lifted now, but I’m still getting emotional when I talk about it.”

Alongside facing his fears, Mark used the challenge to raise money for the Masonic Charitable Foundation. At the time of writing, £5780 has been donated online, to be distributed amongst a number of local and national charities.

“The guy in scrutineering said he had followed my story, and a young couple have just been in who had been following it. I’ve never known anything like it,” he continued. “I’m just a guy doing something to get rid of some demons, you know. It’s come together nicely and I’m glad.”