Minimoto Mayhem

What better way to shed those Christmas-induced calories than get involved in a post-festivities minimoto endurance race? 

- Alessandro 'A-Force' Fagano

Throttle pinned, teetering on the powerband, awkwardly contorting over my miniscule steed, the Christmas extremities lurking between fresh rolls of flab were palpable. Squeezing every fraction of throttle tube and trying to at least look fast, I assume I’m flying. But then Fraser Rogers – one of the UK’s juiciest road racing talents and top Kawasaki in last season’s BSB Stock 1000s – whizzes past and slams my visor shut like we’re on a bloody fairground ride. I felt like crying.

CRASH FEST

This is the time of year I’m reminded of being overweight for many reasons. The now annual post-Xmas minimoto endurance race has been resident at Swindon Karting Arena for several years now, manifesting into the biggest minimoto race in the UK and a who’s-who of motorcycle racing. With several months either side of the racing season, it’s also a good chance to meet with racing buddies from around the scene at what’s essential a social event. The likes of Scott Redding, Danny Kent and James Hillier have been regulars in recent times, although they sat out 2016’s turkey burning festival – probably due to the carnage of last year. I recall Hillier spending more time crashing his bike than riding it.

The formula is simple: 20 teams, each consisting of four riders, riding identical race-inspired minimotos in a two-hour test of speed, durability, flexibility and pain threshold. The execution is anything but. Last year, we had several broken bones, trips to A&E, and even a pause in the race while the blood wagon scraped up some poor dude with a compound fracture of his femur. These bikes may be small but this isn’t chess.