A TALENTED quad-bike racer has been left ‘in pieces’ after thieves used a blowtorch and bolt cutters to steal two prized bikes worth £20,000.

Weston Mercury: Ryan Spratt-Wyatt in action at Weston Beach Race.Ryan Spratt-Wyatt in action at Weston Beach Race. (Image: Archant)

While bike mechanic Andrew Wyatt and his son Ryan, a national-standard rider, slept in their Winscombe home, intruders broke into their neighbouring garage and trailer to steal the bikes in the early hours of last Tuesday.

Ryan, aged 18, won the Weston Beach Race youth quad-bike division in 2014, and raced in the under-21 British quad bike championships this year.

The gifted rider had been in training five times a week ahead of the new season, but has been left ‘heartbroken’ by the loss of his bike, according to dad Andrew – and potentially denied the chance to ride next year.

He said: “He’s been out training for two months to get ready. He’s in pieces and has been in training for four to five days a week. It’s heartbreaking for him. It costs a fortune to run and I don’t know what we’ll be able to do for next year.

“It will be looking pretty bleak. It’s infuriating to lose out to scum like that, and we are putting up a reward for information.

“This isn’t the first time this has happened. I had a bike nicked 40 years ago and I had to pay to get it back. Luckily, they won’t be able to sell these in Europe.”

The thieves struck at some point between 1-6am, using bolt cutters and a blowtorch to break into the family’s garage and trailer, before carrying the bikes over a fence to make their getaway.

Mr Wyatt said: “It was well-secured and padlocked. It would have taken at least five guys to pick it up and carry it; they’ve taken it over the gate and then cut the lock.

“They’ve done a real job on it, there are no fingerprints. I’m sure it’s someone who knows of us, as there is nothing to advertise that (the quad-bikes) are there.

“I’ve got very little hope of getting anything back, really. The more people that know though, the better.”

The family was left in the precarious position of being unable to insure the bikes because they are one-of-a-kind, leaving them out of pocket after the theft.

Mr Wyatt said: “They’re worth about £20,000 together – it might finish us. One of them is the only bike like it in Europe.”

If you have any information which could lead to the bikes’ return, call 07774 998703.