During the past few weeks, while the weather was crazy and my bike out of commission from an off roading crash, I discovered MotoGymkhana. I tribute my discovery from reading an article in the magazine called “Motocycle Sport & Leisure”, were authors Dave Mannine and Ross Mowbray spent an afternoon trying MotoGymkhana on a cool British day. Those who are not familiar with MotoGymkhana, MSL magazine describes it as,

“MotoGymkhana is a relatively new phenomenon in the UK and Europe, but it first started in Japan over 40 years ago, with motorcyclists with limited budgets getting together to enjoy informal and fun competitions between themselves on non-dedicated racetracks”.

As part of my preparation, I watched a few YouTube videos of pro riders from Japan participating in MotoGymkhana events. I knew this was something I had to try! Googling a few images of MotoGymkhana I discovered three courses from various MotoGymkhana events and created a sweet PowerPoint to print out. I made a blinder (feature pic above) and began visualizing the courses in my head while the snow melted on my mother’s driveway and during time at Charleston Triumph while my Moto Morini was getting fixed. As the weather improved and I got a few hours in the saddle after a long layoff, I knew it was time to setup a MotoGymkhana course or two and go for it!

This past Sunday morning, in an empty local high school parking lot, I setup two of three MotoGymkhana courses I printed out. Using small soccer cones I purchased last summer, I setup the courses as best I could. With first course I labeled as “easy”, and the second, “intermediate”. Once I began the easy course, I knew I was in for a long day, but in a good way. As my confidence grew, and my understanding of moments required for the “easy” course, I was able to complete the “easy” course in under a minute. I yelled out in celebration, ready for the “intermediate” course.

Now I will admit, seeing over 20 small orange soccer cones, outlining a path for me to follow was very overwhelming. I quickly remembered my MSL training, and all the cones I had to follow to past my MSL course and get my motorcycle license last summer. I took a deep breath, relaxed, let out the clutch, and rolled the throttle to the first set of 4 cones. The “intermediate” course is really two courses in one. The first half I managed to understand but by entering the second half of the “intermediate” course, I forgot everything. This was a common theme to this Sunday’s activities. Studying an outline of a course, physically walking that course, then actually performing on that course, on a motorcycle, are completely different experiences. It takes focus, concentration, studying, endurance, and performance. All this must come together to complete a successful run at MotoGymkhana.

I will be honest that I didn’t follow the “intermediate” course successfully. I allowed myself to improvise a little bit, but I would say I got about 75% right. I am proud of that. What I didn’t anticipate was how much that Sunday morning would tax me both mentally and physically afterwards, and the week ahead. Once I got home, my head was spinning from all the turns, and my legs, back, butt, and hips were score. It wasn’t until Wednesday, today of my writing this blog, that I feel I can get back on the bike. As far as MotoGymkhana goes, it was an eye-opening experience to the level of control you must achieve to really perform successfully at MotoGymkhana. I will definitely give MotoGymkhana another try! Next month for sure. At almost 50, the body takes longer to recover after serious physical exercise. For now, though, I need to work on some of basics again to fine tune my abilities to exceed at MotoGymkhana in March.

Rolf