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Motorcyclist makes TT course history

ESPN staff
August 28, 2013

A motorcyclist has made history by becoming the first one-armed rider to finish a race around the Isle of Man TT course.

Chris Mitchell averaged 99.134 miles per hour on his Suzuki bike to finish 11th out of 20 riders taking part in the Manx Grand Prix Newcomer's B race on Wednesday.

The 42-year-old lost the use of his arm in a motorcycle accident in 2001, but was ecstatic to finally realise one of his lifelong dreams.

"It's up there with having my first daughter," Mitchell said. "It's a life-time ambition come true. The Manx Grand Prix is the best thing I can imagine doing on my bike, it is why I wanted to race in the first place.

"It's not sunk in yet. It's been a long road but this is amazing. All I wanted was a finish. I made a couple of mistakes on the last lap. My mind concentration began to wander but I have just completed 150 miles on the most demanding course in the world, so that's pretty impressive I think."

Mitchell entered the race in 2012 but failed to complete a single lap of the famous course after his team suffered mechanical failures - however, team manager Julian Wood was ecstatic that history had been achieved this time around.

"I am absolutely delighted for him. It's been a tough year. We didn't even get a full lap last time," Wood said. "This year he is fitter and he just puts so much effort in. He has just made a big slice of history on the most famous race course in the world."

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