The world’s fastest woman on two wheels lives right here in Lincolnshire, and she has set out on an ambitious mission to smash her own record this year.
Becci Ellis, originally from Leeds but now living in Scunthorpe, is a self-confessed thrill-seeker with a lifelong passion for motorsport racing, and in 2014 she wrote her name into the history books.
She went from a standstill to 264.1 miles per hour to break the world record for the fastest speed achieved by a woman riding a vehicle with two wheels, which previously stood at 243.6mph.
Becci has been “fascinated” with motorbikes from a young age. | Photo: Paul Fishwick
Becci is not content with just having this record, though, and wants to push the boundaries to the next level later this year. She will be attempting the unprecedented feat of reaching speeds of 300mph on a new motorcycle she has bought and developed.
“I sold the original record bike in 2021 and decided to build another one because we wanted to fine tune it and make different parts to help reach faster speeds,” Becci told The Lincolnite.
“The original had hit its limit and we plateaued. We’ve done a lot of testing on the new bike over the last year and things are looking good, so fingers crossed we can get some more records under our belt.”
Even at 54, Becci is defying the odds and pushing herself to the limit. | Photo: Harvey Brewster
She will have two attempts at the record, one in May and another in September, with both taking place on the main runway at Elvington Airfield, which is more than two miles long.
The bike is a 1300cc turbocharged Suzuki Hayabusa, modified by Becci’s husband Mike Ellis.
New parts were bought for the bike to maximise potential speed. | Photo: Becci Ellis
Becci’s journey started in childhood, when her older bother got a motorbike and she became “fascinated” by it, before eventually getting her own at 17 years old and regularly going to watch races across the country.
She said: “I met my husband through motorcycling and decided to have a go myself when I was 23 or 24.”
You’d be forgiven for thinking riding a machine this powerful would be immensely difficult and nerve-racking, and Becci says you’re certainly not wrong to think that.
Becci has plenty of help in preparing for her record attempts. | Photo: Becci Ellis
She added: “You have to stay as fit and light as possible, COVID lockdowns halted my training a bit, which means I still have some work to do before being ready to take on the world record.
“A lot of people seem to think you’re clinging on for life, but the bike is built for purpose, you fit into the bike and the only stresses you get are from side winds, it’s like another limb like an extra leg or something.
“If you’re not nervous you shouldn’t be doing it, the dangers are obvious so you have to always be thinking and aware of them. Once you set off, though, the nerves disappear because you need full concentration.”
Still all about the need for speed. | Photo: Phil Evans Photography
Becci is hoping her achievements will pave the way for more women to take part in motorsport, as well as helping to make racing appealing to a younger audience.
“It’s not really a ladies’ sport but we’re trying to bring more publicity and get more women involved. We’ve got big plans for land speed racing, most people involved in the sport are around my age, surprisingly.
“As long as I can ride the bike and still have the ability to go fast I can’t see there being a problem!”
It takes a lot of fine tuning to make sure a bike can go 300mph! | Photo: Becci Ellis
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A family-run jewellers with more than 50 years’ experience is relocating from Newark to open in Lincoln’s Cornhill Quarter next week.
Smiths The Jewellers was based on Balderton Gate in Newark for 18 years, but it will now move into the unit previously occupied by Oxfam at 26-27 Sincil Street.
The new shop will open at 10am on Saturday, June 4 and the business has collaborated with Chambers Florists, also of the Cornhill Quarter, to do a jubilee themed window display.
Smiths The Jewellers is a traditional family-run business selling a wide range of jewellery, both new and pre-owned, as well as buying unwanted and broken jewellery. The shop will also offer services such as repairs, alterations and valuations.
The four employees will move over to the new shop and two new jobs have also been created.
Business owner Sonya Smith is the third generation of a family of jewellers and she told The Lincolnite: “We had some amazing customers in Newark, and also who travelled from Lincoln. We are excited to be opening in Lincoln.
“The Cornhill Quarter is vibrant and such a nice place to be and will allow us to expand. We are a great family business with a lot of loyal followers.”
The trial of a Skegness woman who denies causing the death of Nottingham Trent University student Hope Starsmore by dangerous driving has been put back until next year.
Rebecca Porter, 33, of Cottesmore Close, Skegness, was due to go on trial at Lincoln Crown Court on June 27. Her trial was expected to last four days.
However a pre-trial hearing at Lincoln Crown Court was today (Friday) told more time is needed to gather evidence from expert witnesses.
Judge Catarina Sjolin Knight told Ms Porter her trial would now be listed at Lincoln Crown Court on April 17 next year.
Granting Ms Porter unconditional bail Judge Sjolin Knight explained to her: “Unfortunately there is very little realistic prospect of this trial being ready for June 27.
“I know that is difficult for you. I am sure it is also difficult for the family of the lady who was killed.”
At a previous hearing in October last year Porter pleaded not guilty to causing the death of Ms Starsmore on October 7, 2020 by dangerous driving on the A158 at Burgh le Marsh, near Skegness.
Ms Starsmore was rushed to hospital after a collision in Skegness Road, Burgh le Marsh, at around 8.15am on Wednesday, October 7.
Despite multiple operations, doctors were unable to save her and she died eight days after the crash.
Ms Starsmore had just started a course in medical science at Nottingham Trent University and wanted to become a paramedic.
Due to coronavirus, she had decided to live at home in Skegness and study. She also opted to commute to Nottingham once a week.
She was airlifted to Hull Royal Infirmary after the crash and placed in a medically-induced coma.
Her brother and her partner had been travelling with her on their way to Nottingham Trent University and received minor injuries.
Despite having moved to the Lincolnshire seaside, Hope had grown up in Corby, Northamptonshire.
Porter will next appear at Lincoln Crown Court on June 27 for a further pre-trial hearing.
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