Biker falls 120m during offroad race

A motorcylist fell 120m down a cliff during an offroad race in the Wairarapa yesterday.

The 51-year-old Wellington man was going about 65km/h when he lost control on a sharp corner and slammed into the road barrier, before being thrown down the slope.

He sustained serious chest and back injuries and was winched to safety on the Westpac Rescue Helicopter.

Firefighters said the man was conscious throughout the rescue, and in "enormous amounts of pain".

But Westpac Rescue Helicopter crewman Colin Larson said the man remained in good spirits.

King of the Cliff Hanger race co-organiser Graeme Staples described it as a "freak accident" but believes the rider was fortunate because the accident happened on the slowest bend on the course.

"The race has high-speed bits in it where most riders average around 100km/h, but he wasn't going that fast at the time. It could have been worse.

"He got flung over the barrier and his bike was left on the road. The first thing he asked was whether his bike was okay, which was a good sign."

The event's website describes the course as having "fast, sweeping curves and only a few bumps and ruts to challenge rider and machine".

Staples said fencing had been erected on corners for safety, "but it's not hard to launch over something when you're falling from a bike".

A second day of racing today would go ahead.