MOTORBIKE riders have been having some wheelie great fun – as they prepare to take on some of the best in the world.

Bikers from all over the country were at Elvington airfield near York to put their machines to the test ahead of next month’s World Wheelie Championships.

Spectacular action is on the cards - as to achieve a successful wheelie, the competitor must ride as fast as possible on the back wheel of their motorbike for a whole kilometre.

And to take the world record a rider will have to beat the 199mph already set by Dutchman Egbert Van Popta.

The World Wheelie Championship, now in its 10th year, will take place at Elvington on August 15 and 16 and has been organised by Straightliners while record ratification and timing, is administered by the UK Timing Association.

The world championship was the brainchild of Dave “Dodge” Rogers, a previous world champion, who will be representing Britain in next month’s competition.

“In the early days of wheelie world records it was dominated by an elite few with high powered turbo bikes,” he said.

“Working with Straightliners we wanted to also involve the average guy on his sports bike. The World Wheelie Championship has achieved this by attracting serious motorcycle riders from all walks of life.”

Straightliners was set up by renowned bike racer Trevor Duckworth who was full of praise for the venue.

“The runway is wide open,” he said.

“There’s nothing to hit. It’s two miles long, the longest available in the country, and we’re blessed to have it in Yorkshire.”

Andy Bell, a 41-year-old from Haxby, near York, was among those doing wheelies at the launch event, sitting astride his Suzuki.

“I don’t drink, I don’t smoke. This is what I do,” he said.

Up to 30 top competitors from the USA, UK, France, Holland and Ireland will be competing for the world title and success depends on exclusively the rider’s skills at controlling the speed and balance of the motorcycle.

The event will also feature a range of quirkier record attempts, including World’s Fastest Shopping Trolley and World’s Fastest Toilet.

For more information and tickets go to straightliners-events.co.uk/event/