DOES MOTO GYMKHANA

Getting to grips with the Japanese dark art of Moto Gymkhana.

WHAT IS MOTO GYMKHANA?

Moto Gymkhana is a high energy, technical motorcycle sport that doesn’t take itself too seriously. It’s all about skill – requiring accurate control, bursts of speed and ruthless braking to navigate a pre-designed course in the shortest amount of time, with the least number of errors.

GETTING INVOLVED

All that you need to take part is a willingness to improve and learn, along with your licence and a road legal motorcycle – and from there you’ll be able to improve your throttle control, steering and braking, and push your skills in ways you probably never thought possible on a motorcycle.

AND HOW DOES IT WORK ON THE DAY?

On the day you’ll rock up, grab a coffee, say hello, meet the organisers, sign on, grab a numbered bib and listen to the riders briefing. From there you’ll be given a course map and will be partnered up with an experienced rider or a course marshal, who will be on hand to assist you and help you learn the course. You get 40 minutes to walk the course before your first run – and you’ll get another crack at it during the lunch break, before your second run.

When your number is called, you’ll head across to a short warm up course (typically a figure of eight) to get you ready for your run. You’ll then be called to the start box by the marshal, and told: “When you’re ready, in your own time”. Then it’s over to you – you’ll get two attacks to set your best time around the pre-set course, hopefully without any penalties (from touching a pylon to missing a jink line or dabbing your foot down). As soon as your front wheel breaks the beam the clock is ticking, and it won’t stop until you make it back to the finish box. Simple. Well, in theory at least – providing you can remember which way the course goes and what the coloured cones mean.

ROUND ONE AT DONINGTON PARK

Tensions were high as we rocked up to Donington for Round One of the Moto Gymkhana Championship. We’d had a little bit of training with Andrew Freeman, and spent some time getting to know our Bandit 600S – but looking over the course map for the first time, we had no idea how we were going to remember where to go.

It’s imperative that you learn the course in detail at the start of the day – because if you get it wrong, and fail to correct yourself, you won’t post a time. And having a good understanding of the course is the best way to lower your lap times too; you’ll be anticipating what’s coming next and setting up for the next manoeuvre in advance, rather than hesitating as you think about where you’re going and what you’re doing.

Thankfully, a couple of friendly marshals were also on hand to teach us a few tricks to help us remember the manoeuvres. They were mostly ways to help visualise the course, and link together the different set pieces – including imagining sweetie wrappers and bow ties. The tricks worked for a treat for Tony – who managed to get through a couple of clean runs, posting a best time of two minutes 51 seconds, and shaved eight seconds off his first run. But I didn’t have quite so much success, failing to post a time at all – after missing a section and messing up the course on both of my attempts.

I found it incredibly difficult to remember where I needed to be – and after completing a particularly tricky section, was so elated to have made it through with no faults that I forgot where the course went. And I know I’m not alone – Rob Fox, the Round One winner told me that it took him years before he managed to string together a full course without any faults. So there’s hope for me yet...

In short, both Tony and I had a cracking day – and were welcomed with open arms to the close knit Moto Gymkhana community. With its relaxed, friendly atmosphere, it’s almost like going to your local bike night with your mates – only you get to blast around some cones and practice your close quarters control too. In fact, Tony said he doesn’t remember having that much fun on a motorcycle for a long time. And I’m with him; it’s amazing what a buzz you can get after two minutes of riding around cones in first gear. I’d encourage anyone to give Moto Gymkhana a go.

“The most fun you can have in first gear.”