VídeóMotorcyclist filmed death of friend as they broke speed limit Fred Bowden, 42, strapped a camera to his bike and followed fellow motorcyclist Andrew Prowse, 46, as the pair broke the speed limit 30 times in the space of just 20 minutes.
Bowden filmed for 25 miles until Mr Prowse clipped a hatchback car on his Kawasaki ZX10R and was thrown under an oncoming camper van.
The accident, in which Andrew died instantly, was caught on camera by Bowden.
Bowden was then knocked off his own Kawasaki 1000cc ZX10-R by the flying wreckage from Andrew's machine.
It later emerged Bowden was clocked at a top speed of 156mph, but his speedometer had reached speeds of 170mph, Truro Crown Court heard
The court was told that Bowden was caught speeding 30 times – riding 70mph in a 40mph limit, 100mph in a 60mph limit and 124mph in a 70mph limit.
Bowden, of Helston, Cornwall, had previously pleaded guilty to a charge of dangerous driving but escaped a jail term on Thursday.
He was given a 51 week jail sentence suspended for two years, fined £190 and disqualified from driving for three years.
The prison sentence was suspended after Mr Prowse's family asked the court to show lenience because he and Bowden were close friends
Judge Christopher Elwen told him: "This wild ride came to an end with the tragic death of your long time and close friend Andrew Prowse.
"What has been seen on the video was a prolonged course of dangerous driving with grossly high speeds and inappropriate overtaking.
"Motorists were alarmed and afraid for their lives. You will have to live with this for the rest of your life.
"In view of exceptionally powerful mitigation I will suspend the prison term for two years."
Father-of-four Bowden, a car mechanic, was riding a Kawasaki ZX10-R, a 1000cc motorcycle, on July 12 last year.
He had intended to take his son for a ride but Mr Prowse, his friend since school, arrived at his house and suggested they go for a ride.
Mr Prowse then fitted his video camera to Bowden's petrol tank and the pair raced along the A30 in Tolvaddon, Camborne.
One witness, who was overtaken by the speeding pair, told his passenger: "those idiots are going to die if they carry on driving like that".
During the chase Andrew, of Helston, overtook a Ford Mondeo at 100mph and clipped a hatchback and was thrown under a van.
He became "tangled up" in the vehicle's wheels and was decapitated and lost both of his legs – as the entire scene was caught on film by Bowden behind him.
Off-duty policeman James Gallienne found a scene of "blood and unrecognisable body parts" and immediately called 999, the court heard.
The officer told a previous hearing: "I could see a small video camera mounted on the fuel tank of the black bike – I could see it was still running."
At an inquest into Mr Prowse's death, the couple driving the camper van, Michael and Julia Clements, said they were "traumatised" by the accident.
Mr Clements, an artist, said: "That scene will stay with me for the rest of my life."
Mitigating, Robert Linford said: "Nobody can punish him as much as he has punished himself. They had ridden together a lot.
"Mr Prowse was known to the defendant since their school days. They were best friend and their family were close. He must now live with the knowledge of what happened to his friend."
Bowden was given a suspended sentence after Mr Prowse's parents told the court he hadn't meant for the ride to end in tragedy.
Sidney and Daphne Prowse said: "What happened was not his fault. He is a man who would do anything for anyone. He is an extremely good man."