A teenager who had a miracle escape when he was catapulted off a motorbike and hit a crash barrier at 60mph is back in the saddle, making a name for himself in the world of road racing.

Lee Chisnall, of Marlowe Road, Clacton, was 13 when he came off the bike, being ridden by his mother, Deb, on the London-bound carriageway of the A12, near Kelvedon, in April, 1999

Both were dragged along the ground, hit the crash barrier, thrown off the bike and landed on the grass verge the other side - narrowly missing traffic coming in the opposite direction.

Lee's father, Steve Chisnall, was following on another bike with his other son, Martin.

They expected the worst and believe it was only because they were wearing the correct clothing and equipment that they survived.

"Looking back on it they are both very lucky to be alive," said Mr Chisnall. "It took them a long time to recover and Deb took about six months.

"I wondered if either of them would ever get on a motorbike again after what they had gone through."

But Lee, now 16 and a former pupil of Colbayns High School in Clacton, regained his confidence and has gone from strength to strength.

He will be competing in the Super Sport 600 rookie class next season.

He is being sponsored by Clacton Car Panels, Thermal Acoustic Products on the town's Gorse Lane industrial estate and MSS Kawasaki at the Ricebridge industrial estate at Thorpe.

Published Friday, January 3, 2003

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