Mark Brereton Rides Barber 4 Years After A Crash Leaves Him A Paraplegic

Mark is an amazing individual to say the least. A measure of bad luck and subpar safety gear mixed with a high speed crash changed his life.

I had never met Mark prior to the day we rode together but I had been aware of him since before his accident. He was an active member of www.wera.com and a motorcycle racer. At one point he had made a DVD covering his racing title "Road Race" which I had purchased as I was just getting started in racing.

I remember the post announcing his accident 4 years ago and the result. More importantly I remember the posts Mark made after the accident covering his injury and the progress he made as time passed. He always focused on the positives never seemed to say "why me."

Myself I find Mark to be an inspiration, someone we should all take note of. I am greatful to have had the opportunity to help Mark get back on track May 1, 2011. There were a lot of great people there pulling together and being in that group was an honor I won't soon forget. End of the day motorcycle riders are a unique bunch, some of the very best people you will ever associate with. Riding motorcycles is fun for sure, the people you meet along the way is the best part of the whole deal! Mark's drive, determination and attitude are an example for all of us to follow.

Brian Van

Category:

Education

Tags:

• Mark
• Brereton
• Rides
• Barber
• Years
• After
• Crash
• Leaves
• Him
• Paraplegic

[ironhorz]

That is hands down one of the coolest things I've ever seen a group of people come together to do. Good on you guys for for making it happen, and good on you as well Mark for getting back out there and going for it! I won't lie, I sat here and just smiled during the whole video and was really inspired watching you get back out there! Congrats to all and here's wishing you plenty more great track days!

[Sportbiketrackgear]

@ironhorz That was a great day for sure! Mark is the man

[missingdroid]

Very inspiring. Restores ones faith in mankind.

[Sportbiketrackgear]

@missingdroid Motorcycle riders are some of the best people in the world. This is a perfect example of just that. Loads of folks came together to make this happen for Mark.

The folks at the DucShop worked on the bike, SportbikeTrackTime supplied the track day and we took care of the majority of the gear. All of us helped out pretty much all day which was the fun part. Awesome experience and I look forward to riding with Mark again soon.

[larlar752000]

@Sportbiketrackgear Wait can he shift?

[Sportbiketrackgear]

@larlar752000 The bike has an airshifter installed. During this ride it would not upshift, only downshift. Mark would start and ride in third gear until he came off track. When he would pit out he would downshift to first.

[Quagmire88]

Truly inspirational! The strength this man has to keep going, and to never let a single thing stop him is moving. Makes me want to get on my bike and ride. GodSpeed Mark!

[grampygixx]

Now this is a most awesome thing in deed, congrats to getting back on the seat again.

[Trevormoen]

good job mark, life doesn't stop. It just changes the way you do things. I am also a para, check out my clip at "paraplegic snowmobiler" trevor moen

[MarkB701]

Hey this is Mark.....I just want to thank Brian for making this little video and sticking it out there. And thanks for all the positive comments from so many people here. I really am humbled by all the help I have received from so many in the motorcycling world. It's been a long 4 years away from all this, but it felt so damn good to be back again. Oh, and a big thanks to Brian for those leathers too.....I look better now than I ever did when racing lol. Can't wait to get shifter fixed!!!

[BrickVada]

Amazing. Love how he looks like he's taking it easy and then just opens up that throttle. A legend to say the least. Thank you Mark and Brian.

[joostfunke]

Truly amazing! Good on ya Mark, and well done to everyone that made it happen!

Also, I'm so amazed on how stable he kept the bike through the slower corners, real riding talent.

[Jmoges]

That is so cool. I don't think I would be able to be off of a motorcycle for four years and come back like he did without crying after I came into the pits. And I haven't cried in years and am not an emotional person, but this got me thinking. Doing what he did, getting hurt like he did, and then coming back years later...amazing