The great gatherings team party hard at the MCN Festival
20,000 bikers descend on Peterborough for sun-soaked fun
With a tents as far as the eye can see, the sizzle of barbeques and the occasional rev-bomb attacking your senses, last weekend’s MCN Festival of Motorcycling once again was huge success. Opening 4pm on Friday before running through Sunday, the Festival featured stunt shows, flat track racing, free demo rides, displays, stalls and stands all this year drenched in glorious sun! Located as usual at the East of England Arena in Peterborough, other activities included live music, wheelie simulators and first-time rider experiences. While the star attraction was legendary three-time Grand Prix world champion, ‘Fast’ Freddie Spencer. For some, the Festival is an annual tradition. Leslie Allen been coming since it was called The BMF Rally – travelling from his home in County Antrim, Northern Ireland. “We came over on the ferry to Scotland and then rode down in a day. I’ve been coming for years – it’s motorcycles and the joy of camping – it’s a great show.” For others, it was a first time experience, including bike-mad mother and daughter duo Claire and Lara Davis, who rode to the Festival two-up aboard Claire’s Yamaha FZR600. “I’m a massive biker,” Claire said. I go to the MCN Excel Show in London every year so the idea of something similar in a field, with a prosecco bar is amazing!” Another was 53-year-old Iain Hutton from New Zealand, who is visiting the UK for work. Speaking to MCN between sips of beer, Iain said: “This is a real treat. You don’t get anything like this in New Zealand.” One of the most popular activities were the free demo rides, with the likes of Ducati, Yamaha and Triumph all bringing a host of their latest machinery along for visitors to test.
This included a fleet of 20 XDiavels alone, which ran alongside a roster of other models in Ducati’s 2018 range. Cambridge-based chemical analyst Tom Winterton, 28, managed to book onto the first XDiavel group ride of the weekend. “I basically came to ride as many bikes as possible,” he said. I’ve also booked the Kawasaki Ninja 400 and Z900, Triumph Street Triple RS and Bonneville Bobber and KTM’s 790 Duke!”
‘I’ve been coming for years – it’s a great show’