WHEN Clare Burgess and her UK sidecar champion boyfriend Stuart Brown talked of marriage his answer used to be “On yer bike!”

But hearts were racing as the pair finally said ‘I do’ and sped off into the sunset on his gleaming red and yellow Lancourt racer.

Long-suffering Clare, 30, had been used to taking the back seat to the sidecarcross ace’s bike addiction. But finally, bike and bride were held in equal measure when the pair tied the knot at Siddington Church and Stuart fulfilled his dream to whisk his bride off on the sidecar.

And while the 35-year-old groom was lapping up the attention on his bike, the bride was literally blushing: “I think Stuart had a romantic vision of us driving off into the sunset, but he turned the engine on and the exhaust had so much force that it blew my dress right up, showing my knickers to everyone!” said Clare. Stuart, who was ranked as one of the world’s top five racers until an injury last year, was delighted to unite the two loves of his life.

He said: “It was more or less always my plan to involve the bike in the wedding, but I suppose I am more or less already married to the bike!

“Clare secretly really enjoyed leaving the church by sidecar, although it was quite tricky for her with the wedding dress on. But it has always been my wish to drive to and from the church on the bike, so I’m glad Clare agreed.”

Clare, who met Stuart ten years ago on a night out in Preachers nightclub, on Mill Street, believed she picked the perfect time for a wedding.

She said: “When I was about to turn 30 earlier this year it seemed so old, and me and Stuart have been together such a long time so we talked about getting married. Stuart finally gave in – his response was ‘go on then, lets do it!’

“The wedding was only seven weeks later.

“I think we picked a good time because Stuart has been injured, he’s quite often away racing, but this time he had no excuse not to get married!

“It was certainly different, leaving by sidecar.

“I had to laugh because me and Stuart were already arguing when I got on the bike, because I told him to watch my dress with the exhaust – the vicar told us to get on with it and that it could be the quickest marriage and divorce he’d ever seen!”

The pair, who live on Hawthorne Way, Hurdsfield, were joined by more than 150 guests on the big day, including their two young sons, Alfie, six, and five-month-old Paddy.