Motorcycle Insurance

A legal battle has developed between two motorcycle collectors over the ownership of a bike estimated to be worth £100,000.

The Velocette 250cc MOV road racing bike was stolen in 2003 from Anthony Barrett's garage, before being bought from a dealer by John Marston several years later, the Express and Star reports.

According to the newspaper, Mr Barrett offered a £5,000 reward for the return of the motorcycle on eBay in 2007 and then made a second posting a few months later.

But Mr Marston is now suing for libel over the second message, which it is claimed in court papers "severely damaged" his reputation, the newspaper notes.

"I am a man of good character who has been collecting historic motorcycles for many years," he said.

"Hopefully the matter can be settled fairly quickly without having to go all the way to the high court," he added.

However, Mr Barrett told the Express and Star that the motorbike is his property and he will "never give up ownership of it", motorcycle insurance customers may be interested to learn.

In related news, police in Dunstable are investigating the theft of a Honda motorcycle from outside a leisure centre at the White Lion Retail Park on Sunday.

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