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our test drives or view them all

Moto mayhem!

THEY say that life begins at forty.

So, with the big 4-0 looming large for me in 2009, there was no better reason to trade in my comfortable touring Beemer and try something completely different on two wheels; something that would pit me against the elements and test my mental and physical stamina to the very limit – motocross.

I’d been invited by the Highland Motocross Club to participate in its “Hare ’n’ Hounds” race at Whiteness, near Ardersier.

Now, I’ve been riding on two wheels since I can remember but only under power for 10 of them. To say I have little experience riding off road would be an understatement; “off road” to me is pulling off the road into a lay-by to enjoy a nice cup of tea. As for tackling bumps and jumps and knee-deep trenches of mud and dirt... no chance. So I had a vague idea what I was letting myself in for, but not to the extreme I encountered on a cold, windy but dry December Sunday morning.

Highland Motocross Club has a fantastic set-up just off the A96. The track covers a huge distance and consists of low-lying rough terrain interspersed with large mounds of dirt and tight, mud-filled bends. It also winds its way up and down a steep ridge, giving experienced riders the thrill of catching some serious air over several daunting natural jumps. If you can dare to look, the view over the Moray Firth is stunning. It has to be the most picturesque track anywhere in the country.

It’s run by an experienced and dedicated team who pull in the very best riders from all over Scotland for their series of races, and they’re dedicated to teaching young kids all there is to know about bikes and motocross. The Hare ’n’ Hounds race was a one-off for the club – a three-hour endurance race open to single riders and teams. They also ran a one-hour race for the juniors and a quad-bike race.

I arrived just as the young kids were getting going on their mini-marathon and was delighted to see that it didn’t look as bad as I thought. These youngsters coped with the track with apparent ease. “If they can do it so can I,” I thought. What I couldn’t see was the rest of the track that lurked around the corner!

I got kitted up in brand new gear supplied by Mitchells Motorcycles and the thought “all the gear but no idea” flashed into my mind. I had teamed up with motorsnorth photographer Bobby Nelson and the owner of Mitchells, Kevin Matheson. I felt that each of us could easily cope with one hour apiece. And I was to take to the track first.

The juniors finished their race to be followed by the quads. The section of the track visible to me didn’t look too churned up, so seeing the muddy state of the riders as they flew past did confuse me somewhat. Finally it was time to go. Kev had brought along a couple of bikes to try out, but such is the camaraderie of all those participating in motocross that we were soon lent a bike by Garry Coward, owner of the Invergordon-based trials specialists Highland Leisure Sport. Garry thought that the large Yamaha we intended to use would perhaps be too heavy for our first race, so he very kindly let us use a KTM 125cc.

Before the start, I took all the verbal advice I could on technique: “Weight on your outside leg, elbow up, don’t paddle your legs, keep the power on all the time.” And soon it was up to the start line for the lead-out lap, a look-see at the track before the race began proper. I settled at the back of the pack so as not to get in the way and we were off.

I managed to remain close behind the pack for the first four corners, but then I discovered the part of the track that had been hidden from my view while spectating. All the advice went out of the window as I struggled to stay upright through knee-deep mud, slush and banked turns riddled with deep ruts.

This was proper hard! I would successfully negotiate one section only to be faced with an even steeper, narrower section which required all my strength and concentration to just stay on. It was relentless, and soon the pack disappeared from view in front of me. I stalled the bike in several sections, unable to keep the wheels turning fast enough for the torque of the bike to carry it through the mud. I was then faced with several kick-starts and some open-throttle powering to get me out of the quagmire. I got round the parade lap without falling off; now the race was to begin in earnest, but I was knackered. All my fears about off-road riding were coming true. How many more laps would I manage?

But I couldn’t let the team down. I had to keep going. If I’d got round once then I could do it again. And so I did. I managed three more full laps before I was too exhausted to do another. I handed over to Kev and collapsed at the side of the track.

Kev had warned me that motocross was physically demanding, but I hadn’t appreciated just how much strength and stamina is required to keep a motocross bike going round a track that difficult. Every muscle in your body is used; the wrists and forearms take a battering and the buttocks and legs soon burn with pain. All four limbs are needed to direct the bike through the tough terrain. While resting, it dawned on me that there were not only teams involved in the race, but solo riders too. Three hours on that track was truly incredible!

Kev did really well. Another four laps in the bag and now it was Bobby’s turn. Off he went like he was out on a Sunday drive, but soon he was encountering the same reality that had hit Kev and I. The minutes were ticking by but our lap count wasn’t. We struggled into the last hour and all managed one more stint around the track before the final hooter went. We’d done it.

To truly understand what is involved in a sport, you have to try it. For me it was a lesson in the skill, determination and stamina required to compete at the highest level in motocross. My hat goes off to all the riders that day. They were extraordinary. But they were also extremely welcoming to us as newcomers, despite the fact that we were an unwelcome additional obstacle on the track.

Congratulations to Fraser Norrie, who won the Adult Solo Class after 28 testing laps, and to the team race winners, the father-and-son pairing of Duncan and Ruairidh MacArthur from Avoch, who completed 26 laps. Our thanks to everyone involved for making the day so memorable, especially to Duncan MacArthur and Garry Coward. It was a fantastic experience for someone entering their forties. Next week I’m taking up carpet bowls!

* For information on the club and its activities, go to www.highlandmotox.com