Alan Kempster: The Racer Who Refused To Give Up
Ameya Naik
1 min read
Aug 08, 2015, 06:32 PM

Most of you might have not heard about Alan Kempster, but he is an extremely important person. A part of the motorsport fraternity, this Australian bloke races bikes. The front of his bike sports the number '1/2', and it's only when you see him that you'd understand the reason behind it.
Alan has been riding bikes since he was a teenager, and started racing at the age of 20. However, an accident in 1990, where he was hit by a drunk driver while riding, left him a double amputee - he lost his right arm and right leg. But his sheer determination helped him survive this horrific crash.

At this point in time, where many of us would have lost all hope, Alan persevered. His passion for motorcycles mixed with his grit to get back on the circuit saw him work towards making the impossible, possible.
He started modifying his 400cc Honda motorcycle and moved all the bike's controls on the left-hand side of the bike. Now, the clutch, throttle and the brake were all to be operated by this left hand and foot. After much practice, Alan successfully managed to get back to the track. He not only steers the bike, but even leans on corners. While we can't even begin to imagine how difficult this must be, he convinced the racing authorities to let him race.
Other than racing, he also helps inspire differently-abled people. Watch Alan Kempster's uplifting story here:
Alan has been riding bikes since he was a teenager, and started racing at the age of 20. However, an accident in 1990, where he was hit by a drunk driver while riding, left him a double amputee - he lost his right arm and right leg. But his sheer determination helped him survive this horrific crash.

At this point in time, where many of us would have lost all hope, Alan persevered. His passion for motorcycles mixed with his grit to get back on the circuit saw him work towards making the impossible, possible.
He started modifying his 400cc Honda motorcycle and moved all the bike's controls on the left-hand side of the bike. Now, the clutch, throttle and the brake were all to be operated by this left hand and foot. After much practice, Alan successfully managed to get back to the track. He not only steers the bike, but even leans on corners. While we can't even begin to imagine how difficult this must be, he convinced the racing authorities to let him race.
Other than racing, he also helps inspire differently-abled people. Watch Alan Kempster's uplifting story here:
Latest News
car&bike Team | Jun 6, 2026Premium TVS, Norton Bikes To Be Sold Via New Paddock OutletsTVS Motor has unveiled TVS Paddock, a standalone retail network for its premium motorcycles, with the first outlets set to open in the second quarter of FY27.1 min read
Amaan Ahmed | Jun 5, 2026E85 Fuel Priced At Rs 82.12 Per Litre In Delhi; First E85 Station InauguratedAt the opening of the first E85-dispensing station in the national capital, petroleum minister Hardeep Singh Puri promised E85 will be Rs 20 cheaper than E20 petrol.1 min read
car&bike Team | Jun 5, 2026Renault Duster 1.0 Turbo Fuel Efficiency Figure RevealedSmaller turbo-petrol unit is offered in the base and lower mid-spec trims of the new Duster; it only gets a manual gearbox option.1 min read
car&bike Team | Jun 5, 2026Green SM's Electric Taxi Service Now Live In India: VinFast Limo Green MPVs Deployed In Delhi-NCRBacked by VinFast parent Vingroup, the fleet uses the VinFast Limo Green electric MPV and will compete with established players such as Uber and Ola.2 mins read
Jaiveer Mehra | Jun 5, 2026Audi Nuvolari Debuts As Limited-Run 987 bhp Hybrid SupercarLimited to 499 units, the Nuvolari shares its running gear with the Lamborghini Temerario though Audi has upper the performance figures.1 min read
Amaan Ahmed | Jun 5, 2026Tata Design Chief On Ferrari EV's Polarising Shape: Avoiding "Sameness" Crucial, But...Social media didn't take kindly to the reveal of Ferrari's first-ever electric car, with innumerable brickbats thrown in Maranello's direction over its design. We spoke to Tata's Martin Uhlarik to understand a car designer's take on the subject3 mins read
Seshan Vijayraghvan | Jun 6, 20262026 Tata Tiago And Tiago iCNG Review: Budget Hatch Offers Premium AppealThe 2026 Tata Tiago range brings a lot of new things to the segment, and on paper, it looks like a solid product. But,, is the premium appeal real?1 min read
Preetam Bora | Jun 4, 2026Royal Enfield Bullet 650 Review: Is This the Most Desirable RE 650 Twin Yet?We spent some quality time with the new Royal Enfield Bullet 650, and here's our honest take – what we love, and where there's room to do better.1 min read
Janak Sorap | Jun 2, 2026California Superbike School: Finding Speed The Right WayThree days of coaching, track time and self-discovery at California Superbike School revealed that riding faster begins with understanding how to ride better.7 mins read
Girish Karkera | May 31, 20262026 Honda City e:HEV Review: Smartest Compact Sedan To Buy?The most affordable strong hybrid sedan in India looks more interesting than any of its past avatars1 min read
Bilal Firfiray | May 29, 2026Skoda Octavia vRS Review: The Sensible Car Every Car Guy (Eventually) WantsThe Skoda Octavia vRS blends practicality with performance. It’s a real enthusiast appeal in a sensible sedan package.1 min read























































































































