Flying Bike Super Cross 2023, the Kingdom’s premier dirt biking event, has returned from a long hiatus to thrill the crowds.
With almost 50 athletes from as far afield as the US and Europe – as well as Cambodia and its neighbours – the March 5 event saw some spectacular racing.
The event, held at Prek Leap commune in the capital’s Chroy Changvar, was divided into several classes, in order to guarantee closer racing.
Pierre Yves Catry, the founder of Flying Bikes, explained that the different categories meant less mismatches. It also meant the crowd got to witness some very good racing.
“We are delighted to see this event again after missing it for years. One thing I am especially pleased by is that there were no serious injuries, despite several crashes. The riders put on an excellent display, and I think anyone who watched would have been surprised by the level of competitiveness the local riders have. I am very pleased to say that we will be running more events in the future,” he said.
There were five events for motorcycles, ranging from the elite riders in Class VIP and then down through classes A through C. There was also a special children’s class this year, called Class Kid.
In addition, the gnarly course was turned over to mountain bikers, for a Class MTB event. Each of the classes were timed and scored to a professional level.
Yves Catry said the return of the prestigious event was due to the excellent cooperation of the Cambodia Motor Sports Federation (CMSF), who helped make sure the event was safe, smooth, and spectacular.
“Additionally, international standards were adhered to throughout the day, with a concise, transparent scoring system being one of the things that impressed the competitors,” he added.
He also thanked the private companies who sponsored the event. He was particularly impressed by the young Cambodian talent that took part in the Class, A, B and C racing.
“I suggest that the CMSF watch some of these guys closely, because they certainly have the talent to go far. Who knows, with the right support, maybe they will turn professional and represent the Kingdom on the world stage?” he said.
“The development of young athletes is crucial to building depth in any code, so it is important to encourage them. There needs to be more events like this, so they can hone their skills. The more we observe them, the more we should be able to determine who has what it takes to go pro in the future,” he added.
He was elated with the outcome of the event.
“The last time we ran the Flying Bike Super Cross was in 2017, and I was unsure how many riders would sign up. I am very pleased.
He said he would begin fundraising and trying to attract additional sponsors almost immediately, as he hoped to see more racing take place as soon as December.
“I think it will go ahead in January, if not December. In the meantime, I urge all riders to start training for it now, as this is one of the most physically demanding sports there is. We are intending to open the track as much as possible before the next sanctioned races, as there is no substitute for time out on the track,” he added.
