Moto Gymkhana

Moto Gymkhana – What is Moto Gymkhana?  you may ask.

You may have watched videos of bikes on You Tube been ridden round and around cones, you may have marvelled at skills of tight turns and machine control.

However, is Moto Gymkhana much more than riding around cones in an empty car park and have we just offended Moto Gymkhana worldwide aficionados in our description?

The Moto Gymkhana Association in the UK says, “it is the most fun you can have on a motorbike” involving improving riders, “Confidence, Bike control, speed, braking, turning, accuracy and space to learn practice and hone their technique.”

What Is It All About Then

Starting in Japan over forty years ago Moto Gymkhana has spread from Japan to over 15 countries outside Japan from America to Russia to various European Countries including the UK.

Basically, Moto Gymkhana is a motorcycle time trial sport in which riders compete to manoeuvre in the shortest time through a paved course restricted by traffic cones or other obstacles.

Taking Moto Gymkhana to its ultimate practice Mr Minoru Adachi the Father of Moto Gymkhana says that, “You can be good at road racing, street riding or Motocross, but that will not necessarily make you good at Moto Gymkhana. If on the other hand you are good at Moto Gymkhana then all those other disciplines are made much easier as a result.”

Moto Gymkhana Association (www.motogymkhana.org) are the official organisation of Moto Gymkhana in the UK. Affiliated to the Japanese Moto Gymkhana Association JAGE, the UK association hold experience days, practice sessions and competitions throughout the year.

Where? Any Tarmac that you have permission to use

When? Whenever you like join in organised events or join in on line events or just practice in your own time you can set up an international course in a space 20m x 15m

Who can do it? Anyone with a bike and a licence or CBT (Compulsory Basic Training), ladies, gents young or old there is something for every rider.

Do I need anything special? No you can do Moto Gymkhana on any bike, true some are easier than others but the general rule is a road legal motorcycle.

Do I need a special licence? No but we offer membership (£50 2018) that reduces entry costs to events and competitions and offers low cost (£30 2018 ) insurance personal injury for all your motorcycling activities competition and practice.

No special licence you don’t need to be a member or to go on experience day or to have even done Moto Gymkhana before! (They do recommend having bit of a try before the day though).

Do I get to go cool places? We have ridden at Donington Park, Cadwell Park, Oulton Park, Kirkbride, Gaydon motor museum with Harley Davidson and Triumph, Silverstone, Goodwood, Bexhill seafront, East London, Demon Tweeks, Touratech, Triumph Birmingham, Swindon, Birmingham, Darlington, Cosford, Shawbury and Duxford air bases, MFN and the Silly Sausage Cafe to name a few. If you know of any cool places to ride then let them know.

That’s just in the UK, there is a global Moto Gymkhana family making biking special for the world.

How Its Run

It is a sport that is run by volunteers and enthusiasts. Not for profit and everyone helps, you can do as much or as little as you are able wherever and whenever you are able.

If you are a new rider then just looking to do your test or even start riding a bike then go along. If you have ridden all your life and are looking for a new challenge or are simply fed up of having no confidence riding at slower speeds in traffic or in tight car parks or waddling your bike around at the cafe!

Everyone rides together there is no distinction between bikes gender or ability. you ride the same course as the best rider on the day. There are prizes for the fastest novice yellow bib riders and for the overall competition.

On The Day – Time Standing Or Falling

Get a coffee, say hello, meet the organisers, sign on and get a numbered bib listen to the riders briefing.

You will be given a course map and another experienced rider or Marshal will assist you to walk learn the course and answer any questions.

Your number is called you go to a warm up course and ride then you go to a pre-start area to get ready for your run usually riding figure 8 course.

You are called to the start box by the starting Marshal when ready and told to go in your own time.

As soon as your wheel breaks the beam you are competing the clock does not stop till you come in to the finish box

You return and find out if you got the course right or wrong if you got it right you have a time and a round of applause. then you can watch your time stand or fall against your mates or the other riders.

All the competitors do the same and then it’s a break for lunch. Bring some lunch with you snacks, tea and coffee are available though.

After lunch you do it all again. You get to walk the course again over lunch to see where you went wrong or where those pesky seconds can be made up, grab another competitor and ask for assistance or get your buddy form earlier to analyse where you can improve.

Warm up pre-start and off again.

At the end of the competition there is free riding for everyone on the course to have another go to practice.

Moto Gymkhana says, “Help us to make this fun for everyone, so far it is going well we just need your sparkle to make it extra special. No one has ever become a worse rider by doing Moto Gymkhana – Bring your bike and your enthusiasm that’s all you need! Come and have a great day out with us!”

Look out for the red, white and black logo if it’s not there it is not Moto Gymkhana.

Original Sources – www.motogymkhana.org – Gymkhana (motorcycle) – Wikipedia

Moto Gymkhana UK – On Facebook

Moto Gymkhana World – On Facebook