Minutes Later Motorcyclist Racer Bill Warner Died In 285 Mph Crash

Bill Warner, who set the world record for fastest speed on a conventional motorcycle, died Sunday after losing control while again trying to top 300 mph at a former air base in northern Maine. He was 44.
The speed racer and Florida fish farmer was clocked at 285 mph before he lost control.
It was unclear how fast the motorcycle was traveling when it veered off a runway and crashed, according to Tim Kelly, race director for the Loring Timing Assn., which hosts the annual timed speed event at Loring Air Force Base in Limestone, Maine.
After the crash, Warner was conscious and talking but died about an hour and 15 minutes later at a hospital in Caribou, Maine, Kelly said.
The Limestone Police Department and Maine State Police were investigating the crash.
"No one will touch Bill's achievements or be the type of racer he was. He was a personal friend, and the land-racing community is less for his loss," Kelly said.
Riding his modified turbocharged Suzuki Hayabusa, Warner previously reached 311 mph on the same course in 2011, using 1.5 miles of pavement to set the world land-speed record for a conventional motorcycle, according to the association.
On Sunday, Warner was trying to hit 300 mph using just one mile of pavement at the Maine Event, held annually on the runway at the base, which closed in 1994. About 400 spectators watched as Warner made several passes before he crashed.
The motorcycle he rode started out as a stock Suzuki, but nearly every part had been modified by Warner or replaced with a donated hot-rod alternative.
The bike was "built for speed and that's what it did," Warner told the Associated Press after he established the speed record on July 17, 2011.
"The fun of it was trying to stop that thing," he said days after the record run.
"It skips and bounces and slides," Warner said on a New York Times blog. "There's so much weight transfer to the front that it takes most of the mile-long braking area to get it back down to a comfortable speed."
He was born Feb. 11, 1969, in Little Falls, N.Y., to a couple who worked in a tea factory, according to a biography on Dragbike.com. Growing up, Warner was exposed to motorcycles at a young age by his father and regularly raced BMX bicycles against local children at a non-sanctioned track.
After studying marine biology at the University of Tampa he eventually moved to Wimauma, Fla., where he raised tropical fish. He was unmarried and had no children, Kelly said.

[@pdan2897]

Depressing, he seemed like a really nice, humble guy. I'm sorry.

[@dr.wilfriedhitzler1885]

Yes, gentle and honest.The weatherconditions had to have absolutely calm with no wind. Otherwise there will be the same situation as when Bernd Rosemeyer died 1938 with his Auto-Union-Porsche.

[@Thisismycomment.]

I forgive you

[@Shane-zx4ps]

Yeah I’m sorry too

[@rogertycholiz2218]

@@glennhubanks4729 - Agreed! He was not what you would call humble. He should have called it a day after his previous crash.

[@robertholderman7552]

You don’t mess with Mother Nature .. winds …

[@cody8907]

Surprisingly that bike could go that fast being weighed down from his ginormous balls

[@tkong35]

This should be the number one comment!!!!

[@JimmyBeamm]

Ah yes the most over used comment on KZbin

[@larry_to_goated7716]

Wtf 😂😂

[@renfrewdashcam1177]

Everyone such pussies nowadays it's fucking joke ffs yeah he died so have alot of people it's life get used of it fuck me

[@renfrewdashcam1177]

@George Duffy will do good sir

[@FreelyRoam]

Anyone who dies doing what they loved is a legend. Mad respect for him to hop back on crashing a yr earlier.

[@rottafantti9711]

I love doing drugs so when I overdose I'm a legend 😎

[@mtmcommunity]

@@rottafantti9711 doing drugs and riding a motorcycle is 2 100% opposite things man

[@_no_9671]

@@rottafantti9711 good for you👍

[@krotchlickmeugh627]

@@rottafantti9711 youre saying ODing which if fentanyl or heroine would be like going to sleep. Is not better than growing old, losing your mind and rotting in an old folks home where youre treated like a burden and even abused? Then i agree.

[@kagankantar7439]

@@rottafantti9711 That's a horrible comment to make after somebody's death. Bollocks..

[@Markycarandbikestuff]

You'd think he would have died instantly at that speed, poor guy was still alive, hope he didn't suffer too much. RIP.

[@VidarrKerr]

Internal bleeding. He probably didn't even know he was dying.

[@deborahchesser7375]

@@VidarrKerr scary shit

[@deathtoming2201]

@@VidarrKerr pretty sure hitting the ground at 280mph then launching 40 feet up and 100 yards forward would absolutely wreck your body.. would of been an awful site to see but even worse to feel

[@JohnSuchman]

"It's not the speed that kills you, it's the sudden stop".

[@drisfaviagno5499]

@@JohnSuchman stationary John, stationary.

[@natascorpus666]

Extremely sad my heart goes out to his family...

[@SanjanaRanasingha]

On a cooled container I guess?

[@cinematictoaster4338]

@@SanjanaRanasingha bro 💀

[@SanjanaRanasingha]

@@cinematictoaster4338 😂

[@nunyaplayz]

@@SanjanaRanasingha 🤣😂

[@almilhouse9059]

The adrenaline kept him alive.

[@GunsandHondas]

Fr imagine how it feels on ur body going that fast, then getting ur whole body mangled and still being alive

[@miguelcastaneda7236]

your numb actually dont feel pain crashed top.of skull.was off to the side was told was walking around and pissed till they put me on gurney..the hospital and toe tagged

[@pouncey007]

True enthusiast, he died doing something he loved.

[@jeeperp3926]

Willing to orphan his children and leave his wife without the man she loved because he wanted to go fast... what a guy!

[@IP0Monsturd]

He loved crashing?

[@jeeperp3926]

@@IP0Monsturd he willingly and repeatedly put himself in extraordinary life-threatening danger. Liked crashing? Probably not. Willing to put himself in a situation where the slightest mistake means death? Repeatedly. Enthusiast? No. Douche-bag more interested in his own thrills than the welfare of his family.

[@scottbaxendale323]

Loving stupidity is blind love.

[@RossNixon]

Something he loved? Lying in a hospital bed?

[@klappradl]

When you risk your life, there is a possibility you might loose it.That's part of the game he loved.

[@chriswhite8860]

Ridicule this man if you wish but NOT ONE of us is getting out of here alive.

[@chriswhite8860]

@Atomic Dawg00 oh yes we can definitely speed up the process based on our decisions but there's a lot of people that feel doing things like this is living their life to the fullest even if it is what actually cost them their life in the end.

[@octaneartllc]

At least this man actually lived

[@tolloromassi99]

​@@chriswhite8860EXACTLY! We are going to die someday, why not die doing something we are passionate about.

[@wendellwhite5797]

I've gone 151 MPH on a bike twice and never again. It was scary and a rush.

[@VidarrKerr]

Same. Never ever again. It was cool enough to do just once. I stick to twisties. If I want to go fast in a straight line, I wouldn't ride a bike anyway...

[@wendellwhite5797]

@@VidarrKerr Twisties is much more fun than speed.

[@bbingtube]

It's weird how your vision kinda blurs at the edge. 140ish for me that's all my bike could do.

[@wendellwhite5797]

@@bbingtube What edge? lol All I get is tunnel vision at 150 MPH.

[@VidarrKerr]

@@wendellwhite5797 That's probably what he means by "blurs at the edge". I had it too. I didn't really think of it as tunnel vision; it felt different. But, then again, my idea of tunnel vision is from movies. LOL.

[@BIGBADWOOD]

There are old pilots and bold pilots, but no old, bold pilots.

[@bearcatracing007]

Yes there are!

[@mogausephewu3442]

By how humble he is you can tell he's down to earth

[@maoristereo]

Bill had true sack

[@wadewatson2751]

A dead sack, but a true sack agreed.

[@josephrapoza6453]

Bill was stupid and died for nothing. until 1 minute ago I didn't know him and 5 minutes from now I will forget who he is.

[@johnk815]

So true and elegantly put.

[@RegulerShowTV]

@@josephrapoza6453 ?? He died doing what he loved, most people will live a long life of disappointment and die wondering where they went wrong, at least he did what he enjoyed, regardless of it taking his life in the end. No reason for the hate, it’s pointless.

[@kpelmao8754]

@@johnk815 kek

[@Grizzlybrar]

I think he went away having fun and that's what is important to have fun even in the last moments of his life may he rest in peace

[@txrick4879]

R I P Bill got to meet him at the Texas Mile he was a good man and very approachable .

[@vincentp.locollo3343]

EVERY MAN DIES NOT EVERY MAN TRULY LIVES!!!! HE DIED DOING WHAT HE LOVED!!!

[@jimmycline4778]

I have a fast boat and fast corvette, I all ways tell people if I die in one of these machines, I DID NOT die doing what I loved! WHY? Because I’m not ready to die! I’m positive this guy felt the same way!

[@vincentp.locollo3343]

I.HOPE YOU HAVE MANY MANY YEAR'S AHEAD DOING WHAT YOU LOVE. GOOD SIR!! KUDOS TOO YOU!😃

[@box294]

@@jimmycline4778 no one may choose death, it chooses you. When you are chosen will you be molted in your passion or consumed in sorrow.

[@Atrium512]

@@jimmycline4778 Back in the day when I was young and dumb I had my Corvette up to 150 mph. Now I have a Corvette that will do 200 mph, but I don't think I will be doing that again. I'm older now. The older you get the more you appreciate life.

[@leethal956]

That man is a legend...

[@user-zw6we7bp1x]

dead legend

[@tunerimpala5658]

Константин Пастух no shit Sherlock

[@raccoonchronicles5134]

Ha! Never heard of him before watching this.

[@Criwindustries]

If i had something that fast... im wearing a drag shoot.. itll deploy when i release the handlebars

[@josephdelaney9804]

HOPE YOU GET SOME LIFT

[@johnryder5729]

wat a drag suit

[@hornet25o]

Not gonna do anything at 293 mph dude nothing will

[@adambrown4146]

Also he talks about the front wheel coming up. Couldn’t they have wind tunnel tested the bike and added some downforce up front? Or Maybe they didn’t cause it would’ve slowed the bike down too much? Idk.

[@Criwindustries]

@@adambrown4146 I think you're totally right but I don't think the downforce should be enough to cause a huge reduction in speed I'm no scientist mind you oh, but I heard that the Ferrari f140 at 200 miles an hour create enough of downforce that it could drive upside down

[@michaelallen1396]

Just an impression from the video, he seemed like a very cool guy.

[@orlandoengland9184]

Well, it UNBELIEVABLE that he was still ALIVE and CONSCIOUS after crashing at that speed but, I hate to hear that he did succumb to his injuries. I takes a LOT of COURAGE to ride a bike at that speed and I can remember years back when I took one up to a about 160 mph and I was beyond SCARED! Also, I don't know which was scarier, trying to get the bike UP to that SPEED or trying to SLOW it DOWN! RIP Rider(Mr. Bill Warner)🙏🏽❤💯

[@eugeneselyuzhitskiy2431]

This makes me remember my favorite Hollywood start's quote. Break my heart again........ "If one day speed kills me, do not cry, becuase I was smiling".

[@scoobytruck3r315]

RIP Paul Walker🤧❤️

[@eugeneselyuzhitskiy2431]

@@scoobytruck3r315 R I P

[@peter2recycle]

RIP Champ , didn't know you , and from another continent but as a fellow biker my Hart goes out to you and your Family , brother.

[@henriquefranca9145]

R.I.P. Bill, the guy who got me into enjoying drag racing stuff and turbo Busas.

[@popscyclep8084]

These guys know the risk, yet they take so many chances time and again till there’s no more time left. RIP !

[@RichardCole1002]

Very sad to hear. Heart goes out to family and friends.

[@4406bbldb]

I was a test driver and all i can say is we mostly plan on going faster.

[@Liger._King]

Imagine doing something you love that at the same time you are scared of doing.

[@CornFedZ06]

Motorsports baby!

[@coltoncain2726]

I fight fires and do confined space rescue with ropes and all. It’s really fun but it can be scary. Especially on fires where someone is inside. It’s a weird love/hate relationship.

[@specialksplaytime2385]

Everyday

[@ETH85]

Being on the edge of life's limits gives you a big was rush and why these kind of people keep going back til it ends them

[@johnboydTx]

Life by the throttle. Much respect for you sacrifices RIP SIR🏍🏍🏍🏁🏁

[@RK-de5wg]

RIP my fellow racer!

[@normanmunns4743]

That is very sad. Poor man must have had multiple injuries at the speed and being thrown so high.

[@sandrasharp2934]

Launched 100 yards at 290 mph. Can't imagine that the impact didn't crush every bone in his body, much less the organ damage, massive internal bleeding

[@keithsargent6963]

What caught my attention was Limestone Me. I lived on that base from 1968 to 1971. My dad was a pilot in the Air Force.

[@HUMPTYNUGGET]

I would rather spend a day as a lion than a lifetime as a sheep....

[@jenniferlarson6426]

Hell YEAH, I'd rather have a few short years of a great, exciting life doing what I love, than decades of a boring existence as a slave. No doubts about it.

[@seamusblack5876]

HUMPTYNUGGET sounds good but it takes great bravery to carry out that statement

[@heartoftexan]

Don't ever get married or have children. That would not be fair to them.

[@lunaticfringe5834]

Everyone is so brave....on the internet🙄

[@Chance-ry1hq]

🐑💨 Baaaaa!

[@jameslahee9874]

To bad for our loss I do believe that he would break the record at 300 mil per hour two wheels ain't enough God bless to him and his family

[@jonyjoe8464]

you have to push the limit to break the records. When its your time to go, its your time. He almost got the record, if he had survived he would have been back the next year with an improved motocycle.

[@stoney3694]

Much respect to him, and absolute unit

[@mrjackass257]

RIP bill

[@robharding4028]

Brave man ! These world record feats sometimes cost their life, You cannot help but think,he died doing something he believed in,

[@jeffreywhitlatch1409]

When you're doing something, that if something happens, you couldn't possibly survive, and yet you do it anyway.

[@Twobarpsi]

Sounds like it was a high side from hell, if he got 40 feet in the air.

[@derekstegall9811]

Yeah exactly right i can visualize it in .y mind

[@timg7731]

RIP Bill Warner

[@jacobwhite6022]

I was there when he crashed and i watched the whole thing happen.

[@hoplite46]

wow

[@marguskiis7711]

Talk about it

[@lancehurley9743]

Bullshit

[@aquafishes]

This may be hard to believe, but I was there when I was born.

[@raccoonchronicles5134]

Yeah, right.

[@timjkiely]

RIP legend

[@christineayres5339]

Possibly his organs had severe internal bleeding, RIP Bill Warner a fearless man for sure as if it had been me id have called it a day there and then.

[@deborahchesser7375]

Me too, I guess that’s what separates the hmmm.... brave ? Then again we are still here, it’s a hard call.

[@christineayres5339]

@@deborahchesser7375 oh I've had bad accidents once split a van in half driving at 80mph when the div head pulled out into my path , luckily I was driving a Honda accord very strong car so I survived

[@raynic1173]

You're most likely right.

[@christineayres5339]

@@raynic1173 Sadly 🙈

[@irepairofpc31familykartrac51]

@@deborahchesser7375 a hard call, huh. Death is a poor decision. But that’s just me.

[@gabe5360]

Anyone know what he did to the hayabusa to make it go that fast?

[@chriss6154]

Seems like a really cool dude and went out doing something he loved...

[@kenschauer3781]

VERY SAD...GOD BLESS HIM...

[@pjofurey6239]

Wild bill at peace at last . Never forgotten .

[@lvpo8866]

Probably died of suffocation and bleeding. When you fall off a bike you can’t breathe and blood just leaks out from the rash. I remember I fell off a little scooter at 40km/hr. I couldn’t breathe properly. My arms and legs all had blood everywhere. If I was going 20-30 km more faster I could’ve died. Very scary, always wear protection guys!

[@raynic1173]

R.I.P. my fellow racer, sounds like she locked up.

[@t.s.racing]

R.I.P. BILL WARNER. I live most days doing the same, going as fast as my bikes will allow. I pray that I NEVER ride faster than my Angels can fly. PEACE MY FRIEND.

[@dwilson2548]

Rest in peace sir at least you got to go doing something you truly loved I sure hope I'm driving when it's my time there's nothing in the world I love more and to be behind the wheel foot firmly planted against the floor giggling

[@jerricabusby4793]

He went 40 feet high! Omg thats crazy

[@freebeer91]

Stfu dumb bitch

[@user-wp4vh3qd1q]

Fuc* you bitc*

[@berbentonny8709]

Don’t give a shit about the comments anonymous children verry insecure

[@mokokawi]

God bless him...and his family 🙏

[@rommeldones6980]

So sad about what happenef here...RIDE IN PARADISE SIR! 😔

[@touch2change489]

RIP Bill

[@daneyan1985]

RIP. Here one second and gone the next.

[@frans_eur5]

Rip Bill warner 🙏😭

[@patrickdean9797]

rest in peace Bill Warner racing across the cosmos now

[@rayc.8555]

R.I.P Sir. Seemed like a like nice and decent man.

[@frankyb4440]

If I was riding something like that I would never ride it on a windy day especially on an open stretch. I wonder if a gust of wind is what got him.

[@pabloance8711]

He died doing what he loved, a true enthusiast

[@stargazeronesixseven]

Can't believed it's 10 years ago in 2013 that Bill Warner has left us while trying to reached 300mph in his modified Suzuki Hayabusa ... 🙏 May Bill Warner be Blessed to a Better World & Realm ... ÖM ÅMÏ DÈWÅ HŘÏH 🕯🌷🌿🌏💜🕊

[@gzapp669]

I hit a parked car while street racing when I was 17. I was doing 85+ mph and hit a Volkswagen. Pushed it's motor all the way into the front seat. I flew 75 yrds before landing, my gas tank (Kawasaki 400 triple that I had done up for track racing) went with me and my denim jacket caught fire. Luckily the Boss man upstairs was watch out for me because an old man had been watering his flowers out by the street that day and he didn't turn off his hose or put it away (which he normally did) My back blistered like I had a bad sun burn and I broke 5 ribs, tore a 2 inch hole in my left lung. Almost died due to a poor xray. If I had stayed unconscious for another 15 minutes that morning, I would have drowned in my own blood. My entire chest cavity was full of it from the punctured lung. Spent more than a month in the hospital. I found God that day as I truly believe he spoke to me when I left my body and did not want to return. He told me I had a special purpose to fulfill in life and I have been trying to do that ever since !

[@MrJoebiz24]

I "liked" this simply because of his commitment..........sad loss.

[@tbrackett9344]

At 1:00 easy take off then he gets on it and the back tire breaks loose. Serious power.

[@johnadams2063]

300 !!! Jesus that's sick.. any move could kill you

[@cubjr1936]

This Man was tough , dedicated, and loved what he did. They don't make em like this anymore. But legends never die. Much Respect 👊

[@charlesdesaintlaurent5957]

So sad GOD rest mate Chaz

[@lexuses3942]

It’s sad he was just talking like any normal day then just gone

[@erendyalatorre7785]

RIP Warner. I know for a fact he is awaited in Valhalla where his record will be witnessed, shiny and chrome.

[@kasperkjrsgaard1447]

In Valhalla? Nah, that place is for the norsemen.

[@erendyalatorre7785]

@@kasperkjrsgaard1447 it's from mad max

[@erendyalatorre7785]

@@kasperkjrsgaard1447 mad max

[@blkcoupequattro]

Dam, I've done 165 on a bike that's plenty fast, can't imagine double that speed on asphalt or concrete, impossible on salt as traction would be nearly impossible RIP.....

[@raynic1173]

ah, they do it at Bonneville every year, buts why the course is 5 miles long, it takes time to get up to speed because of the traction issue.

[@tinkeringinthailand8147]

I did 176MPH on my R1 early one Sunday morning, on the way home my chain snapped at 70Mph and lucky for me the front sprocket also came off and the chain just fell in the road. I thank whoever was watching over me that morning. I never rode that bike again. You can see my R1 on my channel :)

[@mikecarmean6446]

Lots Of Guts ✅ Loved What He Died For... RIP

[@mikewest5529]

Let the wind forever be at this mans back!! Until we all meet again!

[@christopherpeninger324]

RIP. I know the chasing of that feeling but that bike looked like an unstable gyroscope...

[@nickrider5220]

In his life he truly lived and achieved 👍

[@milojanis4901]

Always saddened when good people die. Especially motorsports riders/drivers.....

[@captainspalding69er]

458kmph... thats what you call a speed demon, R.I.P.

[@jimmycline4778]

You know he wanted to hit 300! So close though!

[@northerniltree]

Dying the first time is the worst.

[@peteprizzi8508]

So sad that someone wants to risk their precious life to go that fast. For what????

[@bigsarge8795]

Died an hour after the crash ? Holy jesus

[@graemebrumfitt6668]

RIP Dude. GB

[@danerickson1632]

That guy had some big balls, and no fear.

[@shreyasreddy7294]

Rip brother♥️

[@mickzulyevic9882]

RIP man :(

[@mohuckmedshishkeblob1712]

Pleased to read he had no Kids or Wife, the loss of someone you Love is a real downer in this life.

[@metricdeep8856]

Given the obvioius risks....it's still tragic. These achivements are intended to be fun and exciting for all involved and always are until it goes wrong. Best to the family and friends.

[@tbone67gthenderson78]

RIP brother

[@Hermes8A8A]

Just about to buy my first motorcycle and learn to ride.....& this comes into my recommended 😫😫😫

[@cyclist68]

It was the wind that did it? Same story for Malcom Cambell doing his last record water speed return run on lake Conistone in the Lake District UK. The wind was getting up so he went without giving the lake long enough to settle. Brave men.

[@peteby485]

He died doing what he loved i can see peace in that

[@catman9186]

May he rest in peace.

[@michaelraddish7898]

May he rest in peace

[@juanbadbreedracinggarcia6608]

Tough dude, Respect!!!

[@williammcguire5685]

I hate that when people say he did doing something he loved. This is tragic sorry it happened.

[@clwomble]

I agree. I bet he didn’t love it that much while he was laying there dying. RIP.

[@alshotrodsandratrods8780]

I would rather survive doing something I love.

[@raymunchieftain4170]

Rest in peace good Man .

[@PInk77W1]

Where was this at ?

[@PInk77W1]

@@gurnblanston3210 thx

[@FlatlandMando]

I guess you have to be ok with being in a sport that is frequently " time limited" through experiencing your own fatality

[@trevortrevortsr2]

RIP