HAMPSHIRE police are to unleash a new secret weapon to crack down on speeding bikers, the Daily Echo can reveal.

A powerful undercover sports motorcycle will roll into action on the county’s roads at the end of the month.

It will be equipped with emergency lighting and sirens, as well as a hi-tech video system. Police have refused to reveal the make or model of the 170bhp vehicle.

PC Mick Gear, Hampshire’s Bikesafe co-ordinator, said that the unmarked bike would help to reduce motorcyclist deaths.

However, a local motorcycle campaign group last night said that officers shouldn’t unfairly target two-wheelers.

Three of the force’s riders have been hand-picked to patrol key routes where some riders are known to reach speeds of more than 100mph.

The A32 from Fareham to Chawton, the A3507 from Romsey to Andover and the A272 from Winchester to Petersfield are the most notorious, police say.

The routes are popular with touring groups in the summer.

PC Gear said that the unmarked bike, which will have a top speed of about 180mph, would target all speeders and not just target motorcyclists.

The undercover bike will have an onboard camera that can play back a video of the offence to the rider. However, PC Gear said that it was the constabulary’s policy not to pursue motorcycles or cars at dangerously high speeds.

He added: “Motorcyclists will think we are trying to reduce their fun, but we are trying to reduce loss of life.

“Motorcyclists represent one per cent of the road traffic, but 19 per cent of those killed or seriously injured. Each fatality costs £1.6m to the community.”

Since 2007, 55 motorcyclists have died on Hampshire roads – including three this year – with another 750 suffering serious injuries. Last year nine riders were killed, compared with 33 in 2003. However, they still accounted for 21 per cent of all the county’s road deaths.

Geoff Breeze, chairman of the Southampton Motorcycle Action Group, claimed it was a “myth” that motorcyclists got away with speeding and said that enforcement must be even-handed.

“On the one hand it’s great to see they are trying to reduce casualties on the road, but we believe the answer to that is educating people,” he said.

“But I am not thrilled at the prospect of motorcyclists being targeted specifically, if that is the case with this unmarked bike.”