Winter Paralympian turned motorcycle racer wins 600cc World Championship

Talan Skeels-Piggins is Britain’s latest motorcycle world champion. The Winter Paralympian and European alpine skiing champion, who was paralysed from the chest down in 2003, won the 600cc Paraplegic class at the Bridgestone World Cup, held at the Vallelunga circuit, south of Rome last week.

Before he had even left the UK, Talan, 44, was hit by a setback. His race bike blew an engine testing at Cadwell Park just four days prior to the departure date. So he was forced to take his second-choice bike, which didn’t have a usable fourth gear.

Talan qualified in tenth, but the paralysed riders all started at the back of the grid. At least it gave him some useful information on who he’d be battling with in the race.

Several classes were riding in the same ten-lap race in the 36 degree heat and Talan entered a race-long battle with a below-knee amputee on a 1000cc bike that was 20mph faster through the speed trap. In the end, it was Talan who came out on-top of that particular race, and was placed 8th overall (all capacities and disabilities).

Talan says, “The race was extremely hard for me, the heat took a massive toll on my body, but I knew the other racer was just behind me, so I couldn’t relax for one moment. I kept repeating to myself the coaching points which enabled me to keep my rhythm and actually put in my fastest time on the last lap.”

With the final times verified, it was the Italian arm amputee, Umberto Lisanti, who took the win in the overall 600cc category (all disabled racers) with Talan just 14 seconds behind. This meant that Talan was placed first in the 600cc category for paralysed riders, and therefore awarded the 2015 World Championship.  

Later this month Talan will travel to Elvington where he will attempt to set a Land Speed Record for paralysed motorcyclists on a Suzuki Hayabusa. He is also one of four racers that is part of Talan Racing Team, and will continue to compete against able-bodied racers here in the UK.