Isaac Ashe, East Midlands and
Monika Plaha, East Midlands Today
A content creator from India who had his motorbike stolen 15,000 miles (24,140km) into a round-the-world challenge in the UK was left “speechless” at being gifted a new motorbike.
Yogesh Alekari had travelled through 17 countries on his black, white and orange KTM 390 Adventure before it was stolen while parked at Wollaton Park in Nottingham on 28 August.
After Mr Alekari’s story made international headlines, the Off Road Bike Centre in Mansfield Woodhouse, Nottinghamshire, offered to get him back on the road.
Mr Alekari collected the motorbike on Thursday – although as his passport and licence were also stolen, paperwork will keep him on two feet, not two wheels, for a few weeks yet.
Since the theft, Mr Alekari had received messages offering help, clothing and replacement motorbikes – including an offer from the production company behind the Long Way Home TV series, fronted by actor Ewan McGregor and TV presenter Charley Boorman.
He said: “After 10 days, I can smile. I never expected this kind of support – what can I say? I am speechless.
“The Off Road Centre did their job beyond the imagination, I say thank you very much from the bottom of my heart.”
Mr Alekari said after four years of planning he had bought the missing bike in April before setting off on his trip through the likes of Iran, Nepal, China, Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan.
He then travelled through Europe, visiting numerous nations including Germany, Belgium, the Netherlands, France and the UK.
The full-time content creator, with more than 180,000 Instagram and 16,000 Facebook followers, had been documenting his journey on social media until his arrival in Nottingham.
In addition to the bike, luggage that was attached to it containing his documents and £15,000 worth of belongings was also taken.
Mr Alekari now plans to continue his journey through about 30 more countries – with hopes of riding south through Europe to Africa next – once he is fully insured to ride the new motorbike.
He said: “I need a lot of things to get on the road, I’ll pack my bike and as soon as possible, I will be on the road to somewhere in Africa.”
Benjamin Ledwidge, managing director of the Off Road Centre, said: “With it being our home town, we thought ‘this bike’s here, let’s jump out and see if we can help him’.
“I don’t think he believed it to begin with.
“We’re going to follow his journey now and see how he gets on.”
On Monday, Nottinghamshire Police said it located and arrested an 18-year-old man in Doncaster, who was detained on suspicion of theft of a motor vehicle and other offences.
A firearm, an extendable baton and quantities of cannabis were also recovered from a property in Doncaster, police said, and the man was further arrested on suspicion of possession of a firearm without a certificate, possession with intent to supply Class B drugs, and possession of an offensive weapon in a private place.
Officers are still trying to trace the stolen motorbike.
