Tried: Enduro and Motocross (By Tomas Noruego) There are many things a bored resident can try, and then be superstar at straight away. Motocross is not one of them. Although it looks cool, it takes concentration, guts and exceptional physique. The weight and power of these bikes make it one of the most demanding and dangerous sports in the world, and a moment of bad concentration can result in horrific injuries. So I decided to have a go... Ok, for beginners it is not as scary as it sounds. As in other power sports, the protection gear and the safety routines are faultless, beginners can only risk bumps and scratches at the most. And with one of the best tracks in Europe being situated in San Miguel, the possibility to try something more exciting and unusual than golf at weekends should certainly attract more interest than what it has done so far. Australian Jason Ecclestone, 37, and his lovely South African wife Tracey have been running Motocross365 in Valle San Lorenzo for four years now, and they know the business in and out. A motocross enthusiast since his birth, Jason is now realizing his lifetime dream. Offering classes, excursions, competitions and a specialist shop as well, the couple are now local market leaders in the sport which has always been their life and passion. They also sell second hand bikes and accessories, and have recently invested in six new street bikes which they will rent out to tourists and residents. They offer two different types of motorcycle activities – Motocross and Enduro. Motocross is very competition minded offroad racing inside an enclosed circuit. Significant for this sport is the mass start, the high jumps and the way they whirl
up dust and mud when sliding through curves. Enduro, on the other hand, is enjoyed outside the normal circuits and tracks. It is instead based on either prearranged obstacles and challenges, or just the ones Mother nature has on offer. This is a somehow less demanding ride, with less pressure and the possibility to do it at your own pace, so I decided to try this one first. Before you get to even start the engine, you get the proper instructions and a bunch of protective gear. Something similar to alpine boots, an upper body armour, a funny looking helmet and more pads than an American footballer will normally keep you intact. Normally. And just as we are about to set off, my tutor remembers that I should also have been wearing something called a Leatt neck brace – a newly launched gadget to reduce the many broken necks in this sport. Great... They have distribution rights for the area, but couldn’t remember to bring one. “You wont need it,” says Jason, “today we are just gonna turtle along the coast as you are a beginner”. These degrading words are the root to my first and only mistake on this trip. Eager to show that im not a “beginner”, I add too much gas and before I know it im out in the bushes. The force of these bikes is tremendous, and a little nudge releases a stable of horsepower in half a second. Chuckling, he helps me get the heavy machinery up from the ground, and explains that overconfidence is a common problem. Leaving the overconfidence in the desert south of Abades, we set off on a fantastic two hour trip to El Medano and back again. The scenic landscape and the cool afternoon wind make this a great experience and im starting to visualize myself as a possible future weekend “endurer”. But the track is the real test, where you jump high in the sky and spray the spectators with mud. It looks cool, and after having survived Jason’s deliberately tame enduro trip, im up for it. As we arrive at the San Miguel circuit, im further fooled by two five year olds on tiny bikes, racing and jumping like nothing. I enter the track unfaced, but as I approach the first and probably smallest hill, I get flashbacks to that time as a kid back in Norway, when my dad signed me up for ski jumping. I loved the classes, the suit and carrying the skies over my neck. But when I stood at the top of what looked like an endless plunge into a painful death, I walked back down again and handed in my gear. And this story ends the same way. There is a reason why I didn’t act in the Jackass movies, and why most of my bones are intact. Im a coward, and I’ll rather watch motor sport on TV. That hill wasn’t big at all, but I was meant to write about this madness, not join it. This is for those who are attracted by physical challenges, speed and something different. Jason and Tracey are running a good business, and are ready to offer experience, equipment and discounted prices for residents. Motocross is great exercise and fun, and at least I tried it. So should you… To contact Motocross365, phone 639 012206. Tomas Noruego |
