I was at an international presentation, outside of Madrid, when I received a call from my Editor-in-Chief, aka Morrillu:
– Pipe, you are assigned to the inauguration of Motocrossity as soon as you return.
– I am delighted to go Morri, but you should know that I have not done motocross in my life.
– That is precisely what it is about. It is indoor, with electric motorcycles. You go, try the matter and tell it from your perspective.
My off road experience is not zero. When I was little, I did trials and although it was a bit of a package, it helped me get the feel of the gas, the clutch and the brakes, in addition to developing the concept of balance in terms of the position on the bike. It is clear that motocross is not the same, even less so in electric motorcycles, in which there is no clutch. But the fact of facing a discipline from almost scratch, in a controlled environment and without having to acquire the necessary equipment, seemed flat to me.
Its facilities are integrated into the new Oasiz shopping center, located in Torrejón de Ardoz (Community of Madrid), of gigantic dimensions. It is a huge place, where stairs lead to the first floor, where all the services associated with the activity are online: reception, equipment room, changing rooms, briefing room and the cafeteria, from where Look at the dance floor on the ground floor, which can be accessed via the stairs behind the DJ table. Yes, you read that right, DJ table.
Because as its CEO, Marcos Miranda, explained to us, electric motorcycles hardly produce any noise and if you look closely, motocross is associated with great music, so at Motocrossity you can not only go try motocross with your child, but also design the type of event you want. In addition to catering service, the cafeteria has a stage for musical performances. Proud of his facilities, he commented:
«As a former motocross rider, Motocrossity is a dream come true for me. With this project we are going to promote the practice of this sport among the general public. “Combining it with the urban and modern factor of Motocrossity, we are going to make it easier for people to try it and practice it with all the comforts and without the need for long trips.”.
That is the great virtue of Motocrossity: being able to enjoy a traditionally expensive discipline like motocross at a very reasonable price, €24 for adult beginners and €19 for children from 6 years old each session. With the Stark, it is 35 euros per session including briefing and 10 minutes on the track with time recording, equipment included. That’s as far as “rate” prices that you can see on the web, events aside.
The really attractive thing is on the ground floor, where the electric motorcycles wait for you next to the track, while their chargers keep them ready. Beforehand, you will have been provided with all the necessary equipment, from helmet, gloves, goggles, boots, pants and t-shirt, to protection, such as a full bib or knee pads. Of course, if you want you can bring your equipment.
The next step is the briefing, essential to know what lies ahead, both in terms of rules and driving techniques for the track. The instructions are received by professional instructors who also teach classes if hired. There are three types of motorcycles available: large, small and medium. The first are Stark Varg, truly spectacular and with the same dimensions and suspensions as an explosion-powered motorcycle. The medium ones are Talaria brand and there are two models, Sting and XXX, lighter and less imposing than the Stark ones. Finally, the Torrot MX2 are intended for children, but that doesn’t make them any less spectacular in good hands.
The track, entirely dirt and designed by Jorge Zaragoza (Fim E-xplorer World Champion and Motocrossity ambassador) is very complete and mousetrap, with two plateau jumps that require applying (and having previously understood) the necessary technique to be able to tackle them. with the necessary speed, which can never be very high due to the appearance of the track. In the words of Jorge Zaragoza himself:
«I am very happy to have presented the project. I’m looking forward to people coming and trying it. I have tried to make a circuit for everyone and one that can be enjoyed regardless of the level of each driver. Motocrossity opens the door for people to try this sport, you can come with nothing and we will provide you with everything, including an electric motocross bike, which is easier to ride but just as much or more fun.”
The track is narrow and runs between suitably padded pillars, but its layout feels very safe, so that the falls inherent to the discipline are within safe parameters, easily verifiable in the video that accompanies this article and in which you can see how I was able to brush my fingers against the title of “Rookie of the Year”. I may not have gotten the award, but I had a blast and I’m sure I’ll be back.
