Summer’s here and there are loads of really cool (or hopefully sweaty hot!) motorcycling events on the horizon. The end of this month sees a return for the ever-expanding Adventure Bike Festival but, fast forward a month, and there’s a new festival with an even broader appeal we think is going to be well worth a visit too.
It’s called Moto Fest and it’s taking place at the picturesque Trac Mon Circuit Anglesey on the weekend of 24-26 July. Like ABR, it promises to offer plenty of test ride experiences, and there’s also the opportunity to try out your own bike on one of the most underrated circuits on the British Isles.
There are a whole host of VIP stars lined up to appear, with camping and live music set to provide a festival feel. It’s got the backing of MCN, the legendary weekly newspaper with a reputation of putting on a good show – and there’s even a world championship meeting taking place on site. It sounds good to us.
Anglesey is often referred to at the Phillip Island of the northern hemisphere, with its location between the Irish Sea and the Snowdonia mountain range creating the kind of spectacular riding shots you’d expect to see taken at the iconic Australian circuit.
It’s surrounded by perfect biking roads, so it’s easy to understand why the organisers have chosen Anglesey to host a festival with appeal to riders of all kinds of tackle, from adventure bikes to supersport machines, and everything in between.
Two of Britain’s most popular racing stars, young British Superbike star Storm Stacey and TT legend John McGuinness are among the celebrities who will be in attendance, along with Endurance World Champion Dan Linfoot and former British champion James Whitham, whose team of instructors will lead the track experiences. Anglesey’s versatile layout will see two circuit configurations being used simultaneously, with visitors able to book sessions on their own bike on the National circuit, while the smaller club circuit will be used for manufacturer demo rides.
Demo rides will also be taking place on the surrounding roads and a dedicated enduro loop, it takes one of the most popular aspects from the now defunct MCN Festival of Motorcycling and turbocharges it on some of the best roads Britain has to offer.
If you fancy chilling out watching some of the most skilful motorcyclists in the world doing their thing, then the Moto Fest also hosts a round of the TrialGP World Championship, with a massive five classes competing. Trials icon Dougie Lampkin designed the course and will be present throughout the event, appearing on the stage throughout the weekend. The trials start with the ‘Super Test’ qualification on Friday afternoon, with competition taking place on both Saturday and Sunday.
When the riding is over, Moto Fest has much more to offer with a packed MCN stage programme that includes interviews with those biggest names in biking, guest speakers, workshop sessions and live music.
Sound like your kind of weekend? Ticket prices start from £15, with family packages available. Head over to the festival’s website for all the low down!
