Motofest is the intersection of dirt bike, family friendly entertainment

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Subscribe: RSS

I am a Motofest novice. That’s partially due to the fact that it’s never happened before. However, I’m also new to Monster Energy Supercross and AMSOIL Arenacross. For the first time ever those two are competing in the city, at the same venue and over the same weekend. It’s the inaugural Motofest and it’s happening February 24-27 at Georgia Dome in Atlanta.

Watching Motofest is what you imagine being an extra during the filming of Fury Road is like. The balletic precision of dirt bikes flying 30 feet in the air, engaging in incredibly tight turns and doing it all at rocket speeds. It’s an unexpectedly beautiful thing to watch.

I say unexpected because I’m not a dirt bike rider and I don’t know the first thing about Arenacross or Supercross. Come to find out the difference is rather simple to figure out. Arenacross is similar to Supercross; but is a stepping stone to a bigger field where the jumps are bigger and competition is more intense. Motofest is happening for the first time and it’s when those two happen over the same period of time at the same arena, with a slight change in track.

We attended the media day for Motofest in Atlanta and you don’t need to be a fan or know anything about the sport to have fun. It’s a testament to their sport that viewers can receive an endorphin rush simply by watching them do their sport. This is all age friendly, family good times-just bring some ear protection because things can get loud.

We met Justin Cooper an Arenacross racer who was there with his dad, Glen Cooper. Justin is 19 and has been doing this 15 years. As a dad who almost has panic attacks when my kids don’t wear their bike helmets it was fascinating to talk to him, his experience with the sport and how they do it.

Tickets to the event are still available. You’ll be a fan after seeing it once.