A SPEEDING motorcyclist who hit 215km/h in a police pursuit at Purnim on Saturday night is being charged with a range of offences.
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Warrnambool police Senior Sergeant Russell Tharle said police were kept busy with two pursuits at the weekend, coming on the back of six drink drivers being caught in Warrnambool on six consecutive nights last week.
He said police were in the process of ramping up activities to cater for the Warnambool May Race Carnival, which included additional officers being stationed in the city.
"To get six drink drivers on consecutive night is just stunning," he said.
"People are clearly out there breaking the law and we're catching them. Police officers are on duty 24 hours a day in Warrnambool and we've got plenty of work on. There will an an increased police presence leading up to and during the May races."
Senior Sergeant Tharle said a Warrnambool police highway patrol unit officer saw the motorcyclist speeding through Purnim on Saturday night at 8.30pm.
"The rider was detected at 140km/h and the officer took up a position behind him," he said.
"When the police officer estimated the speed of the motorcyclist at 215km/h the pursuit was terminated due to the extreme speed. The officer already had the motorcycle registration plate number at that stage."
The senior sergeant said the police officer made contact with the registered owner of the motorcycle who claimed to have only recently sold the bike.
"We got onto the old owner who was able to give us details on the new owner - a 28-year-old man who handed himself into the Warrnambool police station on Saturday afternoon," he said.
"The rider made full admissions to his offending and he will be charged on summons with a range of offences including evading police and conduct endangering life."
Senior Sergeant Tharle said the motorcycle would also be impounded.
He said it was extremely important for anyone involved in buying and selling vehicles to make sure the process was completed properly.
"There are a range of things that can go wrong if that process is not completed in a business-like manner," he said.
"Speeding fines, toll infringements and the old owner of this motorcycle could have been in a lot of trouble if he did not have the full details of the new owner," he said.
"Motorcyclists in helmets can look very similar and then who do police believe? Owners of vehicles need to get roadworthy certificates and full details of the new owners. It needs to be a proper business transaction."
Senior Sergeant Tharle said there was a second police pursuit at Terang on Sunday night.
He said a police officer noticed a stationary Holden Commodore on the side of the road at 8.50pm Sunday.
"He did a U-turn to check on the vehicle and the driver took off down McKinnons Bridge Road without his headlights operating. The driver's speed was estimated at 150km/h but he refused to pull over despite being followed by the police vehicle with emergency lights and the siren operating," he said.
"The vehicle was driven through Noorat at 110 in the 70km/h zone. The pursuit then got to an estimated speed of 150km/h before the pursuit was terminated," he said.
