BIKE-mad Jason Thorpe was so shocked by the speed of his powerful Honda Fireblade when he was caught in a police radar trap -- he immediately sold the machine.

For furniture-maker Jason, 28, of Helmsdale Road, Nelson, clocked in at an amazing 144.6mph when he was snared by radar on the A65 Settle by-pass on Easter Monday -- nearly two and a half times the limit on the 60mph road.

It was just a month after the bachelor had bought the 900cc machine after years of saving and the first time he had opened up the throttle, Skipton magistrates heard.

He was banned from the road for three months and fined £200 after presiding magistrate Sheila Foster told him his speed was totally unacceptable and 'quite horrendous.'

Magistrates heard Buoyant Furniture maker Jason had sold his dream bike and had no intention of getting another. And today he said: "I have been riding bikes for years, but never again. The only way I will ever go on a machine is on a proper race track, so this can't ever happen again. "The road was clear and I opened it up. I knew I was going fast, but not so fast. I was shocked. I know all the dangers to myself and other people and it is wrong, but it can happen so easily.

"I sold the bike within days and I won't be getting another road bike, so there can be no repeat."

He added: "When I get my licence back, I'll probably get a very slow car!"

Some people may say the court punishment was lenient, I would say it was fair -- the real outcome, me being off the road forever, would have been the same whatever the punishment."

In court, prosecutor Susan Kerr said Thorpe's speed was measured by police radar at 144.6mph, well over twice the 60mph speed limit on the Settle by-pass. He was riding a powerful 900cc Honda Fireblade motor-bike.

Thorpe pleaded guilty to the offence when he appeared at Skipton Magistrates' court.

His solicitor, Ruth Weir, said he had been absolutely amazed and astounded when police told him how fast he had been riding.

The road was dry, straight and empty and he had just decided to open up the bike's throttle.