MotoGymkhana helps lane filtering

Riders are urged to take up the sport of MotoGymkhana to become more confident riders, especially in slow-speed situations such as lane filtering.

MotoGymkhana is a motorcycle time trial sport that tests your street riding skills. Find out where and when it is on.

The objective is to ride around a marked course in the minimum time without putting a foot down or touching any of the traffic cones or other course markings.

It is very popular and highly competitive in other parts of the world such as Japan, the UK and the US.

We especially love this video which shows police competing in a moto gymkhana event in 2015, complete with teams trials that are spectacular, but do end in DISASTER sometimes.

https://youtu.be/bMORWt6-wzQ

MotoGymkhana Queensland spokesman Cam Browne says participants from their inaugural event in July report that their skills improve.

“Just as importantly, their confidence has increased too,” he says.

“It definitely helps with lower speed control and lane filtering. It also helps when you have gone the wrong way and need to do a U-turn; that’s where my biggest improvement has been.

“It’s helpful also in carparks; for instance, somebody starts pulling out as you are about to ride past them.

“There are many other advantages as well. Everyone has their weakness and we want to try and help with that.”

https://youtu.be/LJG2pCe4Hbw

If you would like to try the sport, check out their Facebook group page or the Australian Motorcyclist Association events calendar for dates and venues. It costs just $33 to enter.

There are believed to be no other such events in other states.

MotoGymkhana Queensland started in 2015 off the back of events run by Gold Coast rider training organisation TopRider.

“Due to some issues with the local council not preparing the venue as promised, TopRider lost interest in running these events. So a number of us got together to organise these events ourselves,” Cam says.

“With an enormous amount of support and work in the background by Daryl (Petch) at the Australian Motorcyclist Association (AMA) to secure public liability insurance, we ran our first event in July at Sleeman Sports Complex.”

While MotoGymkhana is a timed, competitive event, currently their public liability insurance does not cover timed events, so they are running these as “practice” events to improve rider skills.

“Once we have the cover for timed events we intend to run both practice events as well as competition events,” he says.

Currently they are limiting numbers to 20 participants to ensure control and safety.

Through the AMA, MotoGymkhana Queensland has secured affiliation with the international MotoGymkhana Association. It assists with ideas for courses, rules and other expert tips.

These events are open to riders of all experience and skill levels and any roadworthy registered bike may be used. The rider must be licensed for the bike they are riding.

Cam says the TopRider timed events were hotly contested with only a second separating the fastest bikes which consisted of CB125, KTM 690 Duke, Ducati Multistrada 1200, Aprilia Dorsuduro 1200.

“That shows that it really is a test of skill and the bike you are riding is largely irrelevant,” Cam says.

Three tips for MotoGymkhana newcomers

1. Grip the bike with your legs, bend and relax the arms (you want to use the arms for controlling the bike, not for holding on), and look where you want to go.
2. The very tight, low speed turns require good throttle control and clutch control. Use the rear brake to help in the tighter turns.
3. The quicker you can steer/lean the bike (push harder on the inside handle bar), the quicker you can get back on the gas.

Here’s more video to show you what’s involved.