L-plate biker hits 250km/h, say police

A LEARNER motorcyclist who travelled at speeds of up to 250km/h while leading police on a freeway chase from Point Cook to Corio has been fined and had his bike impounded.

Gokham Ozcan was riding with five friends when they were detected at speeds of 180km/h travelling west on the Princes Freeway near Point Cook about 1.20pm on June 27.

Werribee Magistrates Court heard police began pursuing the Broadmeadows man, 23, who was travelling with another biker ahead of the group, after a motorist made a triple-0 call.

Police tried to intercept the pair near Werribee but they sped off at 250km/h when police cars approached.

The court heard the pair were weaving in and out of traffic.

Ozcan was eventually intercepted on Bacchus Marsh Road in Corio while the other rider escaped. He pleaded guilty to a range of charges including evading police, reckless conduct endangering life, dangerous driving, speeding, failing to display L-plates and other road offences.

Magistrate Bernard Fitzgerald said driving at massive speeds through heavy afternoon traffic on the freeway was life-threatening.

“You placed yourself and other road users at risk. And the moment you chose to disobey police, it catapults the crime into a whole different category,” he said.

Mr Fitzgerald said Ozcan had “forfeited the right to drive in Victoria”.

Ozcan was fined $600, put on a 12-month community corrections order requiring 300 hours of unpaid community work, stripped of his licence for three years and had his motorbike impounded for three months.