MotoGymkhana kicks off at Donington Park next weekend

If you’ve not heard of it before, MotoGymkhana 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 amount of errors.

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 best of all, it’s an open displacement competition – which means you can take part on any machine you like, providing it’s road legal – and is all about a rider’s ability, rather than about how much (or little) horsepower a particular bike kicks out. Sounds cool, right?

AND HOW DOES IT WORK?

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 another experienced rider or a course marshal, who will be on hand to assist you and help you learn the course.

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, 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…

MotoGymkhana UK Dates

National Championship Series 2018 

Round 1- 21 April – Donington Park

Round 2 – 2 June – Donington Park

Round 3 – 30 June – Colchester Stadium

Round 4 – 1 Sept- Donington Park

Round 5 – October – Donington Park