Pull a wheelie. Ride with your legs over the handlebars. Hit 109mph – each one of these comes with its challenges, but that’s precisely what Jonny Davies achieved in 2020 when he secured his first Guinness World Record for the ‘Fastest motorcycle handlebar wheelie’.
Just two years later, in 2022, Jonny added to his World Record repertoire with ‘The most donuts around a motorcycle pulling a wheelie’.
It’s easy to think that achievements like this are the norm, but what’s life actually like for a stunt rider? We spoke to Jonny Davies from County Durham to find out more about his journey from a Yamaha PW50 when he was just four years old, to ripping up the tarmac and performing to crowds 26 years later…
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“My love for stunts came from watching the likes of Dave Coates, Gary Rothwell and Jason Finn at motor shows growing up. From then on, I was pretty set on what I wanted to do, and I practised the ‘basics’ on my mountain bikes and dirt bikes. Then in 2014, I watched a video of Stunter 13 at the Stunt Grand Prix and thought, ‘Holy s**t’! That was my introduction to the style of stunt riding that I do now – faster speeds flowing with drifting, headstands and kangaroo stoppies.
“I saved up and got a 2001 Honda CBR600f, rebuilt it with all the modifications I needed, and got straight to it. I practised once a week and got quickly addicted…”
Since his first foray into the world of stunts, Jonny has lost count of the number of hours – and amount of money – that he’s spent on his passion. Doing all his own bike maintenance and practising two or three times a week, on top of his full-time job as an Industrial Maintenance Engineer, it’s fair to say stunting plays a major role in Jonny’s life.
“I spend endless hours in the garage working on my four bikes; there’s always something to repair, upgrade or prepare for events. I want to achieve my maximum potential within stunt riding, so I leave no stone unturned. Fitness training, stretching and a healthy diet are key for me to ride to the best ability and reduce the chance of injuries.”
“During the winter, I tend to focus on preparing the bikes, organising show bookings, and updating all branding for new and ongoing sponsorships packages. I guess it keeps me busy!”
And 2023 shows no sign of slowing down for Jonny with competitions planned, a variety of shows booked already, and more to be announced through his social media channels.
“It doesn’t get much better for me than performing for a crowd. The crowd’s reaction definitely fuels my riding and the pre-show adrenaline and excitement never gets old for me. I also really enjoy competing, the added pressure of having only three minutes 30 seconds to perform my most challenging stunts without any mistakes. This motivates me in training to both push for new tricks and polish up old ones!”
Is it possible for him to choose a favourite trick?
“It would have to be high-speed drifting/powerslides. Hanging the rear out without using any front brake, balancing the throttle to keep the slide within the fine lines of low/high siding whilst bouncing the rev limiter and throwing a load of tyre smoke out…”
Jonny’s top three tips for aspiring stunters:
Find a suitable and safe practice spot
This is probably the hardest part about Stunt Riding in the UK. Finding a suitable location with a flat tarmac or concrete surface in decent condition, away from houses and with the land owners permission, is quite a task.
Wear the right gear
Always make sure you’re as protected as you can be – helmet, gloves, back protector and knee and elbow pads at least – this can be the difference between a crash putting you out with an injury or not.
Find a suitable bike
You’re ideally looking for something that won’t bankrupt you or ruin your life when the inevitable happens and you crash it. Something lightweight, like a Honda Grom, to learn basic balance point/ footbrake control is ideal for starters.
Check Jonny out on Instagram @jd.stunts and YouTube @jd.stunts – and maybe you’ll see him at an event near you soon…
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