Motomarathon – 4 Days of Riding the Twisties

The Motomarathon is a 4 day rally focused on riding routes through beautiful scenery with as many twisties as possible. Isn’t that what a motorcycle was designed to do? Instead of riding thousands of miles on interstate highways, something a car might do better, you go for the curves, an event focused on using your all of your tread, not just a little strip in the middle.

You cover about 400 to 500 miles per day, record your arrival at checkpoints along the way and there’s 24 hours to cover the route, so speed limits are no problem. The first Colorado Motomarathon is June 12th to 15th.

Ducati North America is the official sponsor, I guess they think this kind of event is made for Ducatis, do you think there are any other brands that would be willing to take up the challenge?

Let’s see, a 4 day sport touring weekend, riding through scenic countryside with lots and lots of turns. Hmm, … I wonder how many motorcyclists would want to do something like that?

Full details are available at their website. If this sounds like something you would enjoy, remember, it’s only 2 months away, you might want to make plans now as I have a hunch accommodations will fill up, fast.

Press release:

BOULDER, Colo. — In 1986, a small group of Colorado motorcyclists tried to ride as many mountain passes as they could over four days. Since then, “compressing as many passes as possible into the classic four-day motorcycle getaway became an obsession,” said founding Route Master John Metzger of Boulder, who has organized annual Pass Rides ever since.

In his quest to develop a universal criterion for this evolving form of sport-touring, Metzger and his riding buddies created a fusion of past approaches including the “Iron Butt” and “Centopassi” rides to establish a new format – the Motomarathon.

“The Motomarathon is about riding as many twisties as possible, along the most scenic routes, all day long, for four days,” explained Metzger. “Through a series of self-recorded checkpoints using digital or cell phone cameras, riders attempt 400- to 500-mile routes each day. They have 24 hours to finish, so there’s plenty of time to complete the routes within posted speed limits.”

Metzger formed The Motomarathon Association as the sanctioning body for this new sport, and its inaugural Colorado Motomarathon will take place June 12-15. Routes will remain secret until the evening before each day’s ride.

Ducati North America is the official sponsor of the Motomarathon Association. “The state-of-the-art machines for this kind of mountain riding are Ducati’s Multistrada, Hypermotard and Monster,” said Michael Lock, CEO of Ducati North America. “These bikes were built for Motomarathon, and we’re very excited to help support this highest form of sport-touring.”

Ducati’s “Hyper Truck,” or the famous Duc Truck, will join the event, doling out demo rides to prospective Ducati-mounted pass riders. “Carving corners all day long over majestic mountain passes are what these bike are all about,” said Metzger. “We’re honored to have Ducati become involved in forming this new street-legal sport that seems to be attracting and challenging a growing number of today’s more experienced riders.”

Link: Motomarathon