SPEEDING motorists fast-tracked through the courts in North Yorkshire are already facing stiff penalties.

One motorcyclist from Leeds, Christopher Naylor, 29, who rode his Yamaha R6 past police on the A65 near Settle at 103mph, has been disqualified for eight weeks and fined £175 with £40 costs.

Other riders and drivers have been recorded at similar speeds. A Bolton man accused of dangerous driving after allegedly being recorded riding at 134mph has had his case adjourned to June 2.

Superintendent Martin Deacon said the first month of the force's get-tough road safety campaign had resulted in more than a hundred extreme speeders, both riders and drivers, being fast-tracked to court.

The force wants to cut the toll of motorcycle deaths and casualties on North Yorkshire roads. Last year, 28 motorcyclists died and 180 were seriously injured, yet motorcycles make up only two per cent of traffic.

Riders and drivers caught exceeding speed limits by more than 30mph have their cases accelerated through the system and can lose their licences within weeks.

Assistant Chief Constable David Collins said: "A group of people are facing stiff fines, long periods without their vehicles, and very probably, hefty rises to their insurance premiums.

"They get no sympathy from me, nor I believe from any other responsible adult. It is simply outrageous to tear around public roads at 100mph. It is dangerous, irresponsible, anti-social and outright selfish and we will not stand for it."

The force's strict enforcement regime, backed by the county council, will continue throughout the summer. Extra patrols are being run on the moors and in the dales, and there will be a series of get-tough action days with large numbers of road policing officers enforcing the law on roads with records of serious motorcycle accidents.

Updated: 09:37 Saturday, May 22, 2004