'˜Thrill of speed, exceeds fear of death': mechanic, 59, from Northants is fastest man ever over sand

Terry Smith, aged 59, of Moulton Autocare, executed the incredibly dangerous ride on Pendine Sands, a beach in south Wales, hitting 194mph on his Suzuki Hayabusa.

By reaching that mark, he smashed his own world record - set last year at the same venue - of 176mph.

“It’s down to bottle,” he said. “It’s about control and having the guts to do it. A lot of people get to 130 and think ‘this isn’t for me, I want to live’. Only idiots like me keep going.”

The feat was measured by the UK Timing Association, who confirmed the worldwide first at the location.

Mr Smith said the reason most people did not succeed on such runs was the extreme difficulty of staying upright on a surface with virtually no traction. Others that day suffered broken wrists and collar bones in the course of their attempts.

He said “The bike was squirreling all the time but, with both the back end and the front keep going, you get into a kind of rhythm.”

Asked what racers think of when speeding on the very edge of disaster, he said: “You’re not actually thinking about falling off. It’s a pure buzz and adrenaline.

“It’s hard to describe but it’s feels a bit like: ‘I’m invincible’.

“The thrill of speed exceeds the fear of death.”