| DAVID
GOH'S HOME PAGE Last updated: 26 Aug 2003 David's SoapBox This page is located on:
|
1st Night Motorcross Race Last updated 26 Aug 2003 Back to D'Singapore Scene Great event... but what a crock: The only bikes they allowed were the competitors! Sentosa does not allow motorcycles on the island... but if you drive a car, it's OK. The average Joe looking to ride his motorcycle into the seafood restaurant area like any other motorist would get turned away at the causeway. Sentosa should think twice when trying to promote motorcycling events on Sentosa to motorcyclists who aren't allowed to ride in to Sentosa... duh! Motorcycling events should be organised in places more welcoming, more hospitable to motorcyclists and motorcycles. Personally, if I had a choice, Sentosa will never be on my list of options.
The New Paper - 25 Feb 2003 Vroooom! Dirt bikes roar under the stars By Bian Yu Wei
With a throaty roar and a tang of gasoline, a band of enthusiastic motocross riders descended upon the idyllic island to take part in the first ever Night Motocross Race. Some came from as far as Ipoh and Kuala Lumpur to burn rubber with the best. For the uninitiated, it was an unforgettable assault on the senses. The roar of powerful engines being revved. The petrol smell that filled the air. The dim light cast by a lorry's headlights. The colourful jerseys of riders, as anonymous as Daredevil in their helmets, and just as daring. Sounds like a setting from a testosterone-fuelled blockbuster? It sure was! ENTHRALLING
As Miss Murni Rahim, 24, who was there to support her boyfriend, said: 'I love the thrills, the spills, the dirt, the challenge. And the men.' Yet, families seemed perfectly at ease there as well. Ms Deborah, a civil servant who wouldn't give her full name, was there with her children. Her husband Richard and children Allyson, 10, and Nicholas, 13, have been riding for years - and the couple would like their children to compete in the sport too. On Saturday night, they were content to simply help the organisers, Sunset Bay, run the race. She said, 'We'll be here for as long as there are races. 'Sadly though, there are no children's races in Singapore, and no proper track.' Mr Peter Cooper, 40, who came second in the Expert Race, echoed similar views. 'This is a great social event. I get a chance to kick young boys' butts!' he said. 'But I'd love to see a permanent track in Singapore. There are so many golf courses, but no track!' True enough, the makeshift quality of the event was apparent. A flimsy orange plastic barricade was the only protection for spectators. And it was torn in parts where the riders had veered scarily off course. But nothing could quell the spontaneity in the atmosphere. The spectators were obviously hard-core fans. They yelled their support, breaking the silence of Sentosa at night. Unfortunately, there weren't many of them. Mr Steven Lee, event organiser, said: 'We're trying to get the younger crowd to take part. 'We want more people to come in and have fun, in these beautiful beachfront surroundings. That is the bottom line.' The post-race party was clearly engineered to get a few more enthusiasts in, with the secret weapon motor-racing events have been using for years: A bevy of babes in skimpy bikinis, to help kick-start the party atmosphere. The three models danced a la Coyote Ugly - albeit on a truck bed - to help get a few motors running. But maybe there was a post-race adrenalin crash, because the party stalled once the races ended as people began to stream off into the night. Yet, it was undeniable that for a few hours, Sentosa throbbed with renewed energy and excitement that will hopefully become a permanent fixture on the island. Cool and exciting to hold race at night THE Sentosa Motocross has been jointly organised by the Sunset Bay Bar and KTM Adventure Club for the last three years. However, this is the first time the Sentosa Night Motocross has been held. Mr Steven Lee, event organiser, said: 'We hope that the Night Motocross will be held regularly from now on. 'Not only is it cooler, but with the more exciting atmosphere, we hope to draw more people as well.' Mr Lee gave reasons why Sentosa was chosen for the event: 'The Sentosa management likes this sort of extreme sporting event, because it is very in. 'It also injects great liveliness to the island's atmosphere.' The Sunset Bay Bar is best known for introducing the foam party to Singapore. Co-organiser KTM Adventure Club is a Singapore-based club that organises motocross races and jungle bike trails in Singapore and Malaysia. It has a membership of more than 1000 people from both countries. They are currently working on bringing in free-style professionals from Australia and the US in mid-2003. These experts will hopefully be giving demonstrations to the relatively undeveloped free-style stunt-riding scene in Singapore. But for now, the winners of Saturday night's race walked away with trophies and medals for their efforts. THEY CAME OUT WINNERS The winners of the first Night Motocross Race on Sentosa are:
|
IT sounded like the Sentosa chapter of the
Hell's Angels had come to whoop it up under the stars.
It seemed scary at first. But when the race
kicked off, it was enthralling.