A motorcyclist who was caught doing speeds of up to 114mph on the A11 told a court he was 'trying to avoid the rain' as riding a motorbike is 'extremely dangerous' in the wet.

Peter Brodowski, 33, was one of a group of motorcyclists riding on the A11 at Besthorpe, near Wymondham in May this year.

Brodowski was caught by a police car, with calibrated speedometer, riding his Yamaha YZF R1 at speeds of between 83mph and 114mph for a distance of up to five miles.

He admitted the offence on March 29 this year at an earlier hearing but appeared at Norwich Magistrates Court yesterday for a hearing to decide whether or not he should be disqualified.

Representing himself in court, Browdowski, from Cheshunt, Hertfordshire, who spoke with the help of an interpreter, apologised for speeding.

He said he had been part of a group of motorcyclists who had come up from London on a 'sunny day' to ride around a 'nice area'.

He said: 'What can I say. I did go a bit fast because we were trying to avoid being in the rain. Riding a bike and being on wet roads is extremely dangerous. But unfortunately that's not an excuse for going over the limit.'

Brodowski, a self-employed construction worker with no previous driving convictions was banned from driving for 14 days by the Norwich bench of magistrates who described the driving as 'extremely dangerous'.

He was also fined £200, ordered to pay £85 costs and a victim surcharge.

Also appearing before city magistrates yesterday was Krzyztof Filacz, 46, who was part of the same group.

Filacz, from Watford, Hertfordshire, had previously admitted riding his Honda motorcycle at speeds of between 93mph and 114mph on the A11 at Besthorpe for up to five miles.

Representing himself and speaking through an interpreter, Filacz, who also had no previous driving convictions, apologised. Filacz was also disqualified from driving for 14 days. He was also fined £200, ordered to pay £85 costs and a victim surcharge.