BURY racer Rob Barber has won the Electric Motorcycle class at the Pikes Peak International Hill Climb in Colorado.

The 37-year-old completed the 12.42-mile road course, which features 156 turns and an elevation change of more than 4,500 feet, in 10mins 55.500secs.

He took the Electric Motorcycle class win and finished 11th overall in the 29-strong field of motorcycles and quads.

Barber said: "It wasn't all plain sailing as I struggled at speed on the bottom section due to lack of practice.

"Also, within a mile from the finish I ran low on energy so lost a lot of time.

"Lady Luck was on our side as my close rival had a little off, losing him time."

This was Barber's second time competing at Pikes Peak and his fifth year riding for the students of Ohio State University's Buckeye Current Racing Team.

He had previously earned third-place finishes with the team in the 2013 and 2014 Isle of Man TT Zero Races, already had his name in the history books after winning the first ever Electric Bike race on the Isle Of Man TT course in 2009. 

"I have to confess, coming back down I did shed a little tear inside my helmet," said Barber.

"I'm so proud of my OSU team, they really do deserve this win as they work so hard and we have just been plagued with bad luck. But the never-give-up attitude paid off!"

Following their TT race successes, the team switched their efforts to the Colorado hill climb, which was run for the 95th time this year.

Barber decided not to follow his usual race schedule, spending more time preparing with the team in America rather than going to the Irish and TT road races this year.

More information is available on the Pikes Peak website www.ppihc.com or on Facebook pages Buckeye Current Racing or PRB Racing.