Contributor Emily Proctor has decided to get back on two wheels and shares with us her misadventures on motorbikes!

I have had road bikes on and off since I was little, but this is the first time I have taken it seriously. Being quite naturally clumsy the combination of motor and me, at times has been unnerving for my parents. I had a 50cc Suzuki quad when I was four which I went straight threw my grandmas greenhouse with, smashing the plastics and her cherry tomatoes as I went. I rode my dads nobber 70 also for a few years until the exhaust pipe burnt my leg and I then refused to ride it again. But, now I think it is time to stop being a girl and have a proper go at riding, so age 20, here I go.

Having not rode a bike for about five years, when my boyfriend Paul announced in December that he had bought a Yamaha DT125cc (that was older then me) I was intrigued to see whether I had forgotten it all. Aged eleven it had taken a lot of patience from my dad to teach me to ride the pit bike he got me, turning right has never been my strong point on bike or in a car. However, despite being a bit wobbly at first it came back really easily and we soon were able to take her to a track for a proper go.

Now, with little knowledge of what we needed in a bike, we bought the DT who turned out to be a bit of a death trap. But, you live and you learn, just. We had problem after problem with her, sometimes if she just didn’t want to she wouldn’t kick off. We replaced the spark plugs, took her to bits, put the bits back together, new oil, new anything we could think of but she still handled terribly, not even hitting the power band. Eventually the death of the DT happened whilst riding at Monckton Track in North Cave, the piston ring exploded with a massive bang and she ground to a halt, and that was the end of that.

Armed with the knowledge of how terrible the DT had performed, I now have a 2007 YZ 85cc, whilst Paul rides a 2001 YZ 125. I have only had her a couple of weeks, but already the difference is incredible. I learnt my lesson early on of how temperamental she can be, when practicing a wheelie in first gear I flipped her. Lets just say the gravel rash on my bum has been sore to say the least.

On Sunday, we took the YZ85 for her first ride at Kierdan Park MX Track in Messingham, Lincolnshire.  The set up at the track is very professional with 4 groups going out for twenty minute intervals from ten till three. The marshals and medics there are very responsive and I soon found out just how important a job they do.  I came off on my third lap and what I thought was just a bit of a bump led to an ambulance, gas and air and a trip to a&e. I am hobbling about now with the help of my mum and a Zimmer frame she acquired. Although my dignity is no longer in tact my passion to ride is still here, and as soon as the bruises (and gravel rash) on my bum disappear I hope to be back on the bike to finish the summer season off with a bit more style!