Home   News   National   Article

Biker killed in land speed record attempt was millionaire businessman


By PA News

Easier access to your trusted, local news. Subscribe to a digital package and support local news publishing.



Click here to sign up to our free newsletters!

A biker who died while attempting a British land speed record at an airfield has been named as millionaire businessman Zef Eisenberg.

The 47-year-old, who founded the fitness firm Maximuscle, was involved in a serious crash at Elvington near York at around 4.30pm on Thursday and died at the scene.

A North Yorkshire Police spokesman said: “The incident occurred during a British Land Speed record attempt and the driver, 47 year-old Zef Eisenberg tragically died at the scene.

“Officers attended with the ambulance service and an investigation is ongoing.

“Please respect the family’s privacy at this time.”

A Motorsport UK spokesman said: “Our thoughts are with the driver’s family, who have been informed, the organisers of the event, and other members of the motorsport community present.”

Zef Eisenberg, prior to being airlifted to hospital, in 2016 (Danny Lawson/PA)
Zef Eisenberg, prior to being airlifted to hospital, in 2016 (Danny Lawson/PA)

He was airfifted to hospital in 2016 from Elvington when he crashed while riding a gas turbine engine motorbike.

At the same airfield in September 2019 Eisenberg broke the world’s fastest time for an unfaired electric motorbike and dedicated the achievement to a teammate who died at the Isle of Man TT races.

He celebrated after breaking the Federation Internationale de Motocyclisme (FIM) record for a flying kilometre on the bike his friend and colleague Daley Mathison was due to ride in the Isle of Man TT Zero race earlier that year.

Eisenberg told the PA news agency at the time how he carried a photo of his friend in his leathers and also wore Mathison’s knee slides.

Eisenberg, who held more than 50 world records on bikes and in cars, said: “I made a promise to him, and to his wife Natalie, that I would take the bike to world glory.

“He was with me on every ride.

“We all felt he was there with us.

“He’s hopefully smiling down now from heaven.”

Elvington Airfield was the scene of a crash involving former Top Gear presenter Richard Hammond in 2006.

The 50-year-old was left in a coma for two weeks and with brain injuries after crashing a jet-powered car.

The privately-owned venue, which is an active airfield, is also a facility for driving, driver training, filming and other testing purposes for professional organisations.

Do you want to respond to this article? If so, click here to submit your thoughts and they may be published in print.

Keep up-to-date with important news from your community, and access exclusive, subscriber only content online. Read a copy of your favourite newspaper on any device via the HNM App.

Learn more


This site uses cookies. By continuing to browse the site you are agreeing to our use of cookies - Learn More