The Ups and Downs of Motocross.

Oct 13, 2017

Another amazing day spent out at the track today. Our second fuelled event, after yesterday’s Swank Rally, was the motor cross. More specifically the Deus Slidetoberfest Motor Cross. Lets run with the full name as you know we always like to put our own spin on these things. 9am saw us once again sea-side in the picturesque Tibah Motorcross track in the Kedungu district of Bali. To have a track in front of you and breaking waves behind, is something we never tire of. People call us spoilt. We know it but shrug it off like an unwanted compliment. The fact that this place is probably totally unique in the world is something that also never becomes tiresome. These words, snaps and, later, the movies we put together only go only a small way to describe its natural beauty. We started things off with the heats of our Open Class. With a CC ceiling of 150, because we like to keep it inclusive, we once again welcomed an international field of contestants of all ages. Let’s stress the all ages bit shall we because, and we might as well cut straight to the chase… It was one hell of a surprise to see Kelana Humphrey, the 9 year old son of Deus Indonesia’s President, beat a stacked field of riders, three or four times his age, in the final. After a huge jump past the chequered flag you could tell Kelana was bloody excited as he motored back to the start gates. But you knew it when he dropped his prized 85cc’s of KTM in the dirt before giving a little victory dance to the cheering crowd, well why wouldn’t you? We were plagued with the obvious bike issues, several swing arms and forks, where big heavy international lads came down hard on them, decided to give up the ghost. After all it’s a motorsport, you will always have them, part of this rich tapestry, it’s up to the two parts to hold it together, both man and machine… hang on, in today’s case, it was more boy and machine. Let’s get back into the order of how things unfolded shall we, jumped the gun there a bit. After the first run of heats, we moved onto the ladies. Here’s something you mightn't of known, some of these ladies have only been riding for a few months. In fact, Abbie, had only been riding for just four days. Taking second today as well as second yesterday in the ladies Swank. Weigh that up against the years of misspent youth and adult hood a host of the boys had put in at the coal face and you got to take your hat off to them. Besides… they do look fantastic flying around the track, don’t they? From there we moved to the vintage class. The bikes from the seventies and eighties are making a huge come back here not only that, all the guys have seemed to find the gear their fathers rode. The right boots, period correct helmets and perfectly restored bikes. What a sight they were. We had Deni, Giang and the boys from Batu Karas bring down their bikes down to Bali and all of them rode in about five races today, not content with just the Vintage, they joined the Open with their period correctness and took it to the big guys… Those guys never let up all day. We moved back onto the Open, but you already know how that ended so lets fast forward to another little surprise we had, the Power on Power. Two guys, riding two proper 250’s built for motorcross. Mano e mano. We had Forrest Minchinton against Matia. Ferdika & Bastien. They paired off and put on an unparalleled aerial display. Then the two winners, Forrest and Ferdika, squared off against each other. Watching those guys fly over the doubles and the table tops you suddenly understand how it should look. Moreover, how the 150cc hobble we had attached to the Open really affected the really good riders. It was quite the spectacle. Another amazing day, in an astonishing place, watching incredible riding. It doesn’t get much better than this.

ENGLISH TEXT BELOW

Setiap tahun, teman-teman kita Tasix Adventure—penyelenggara petualangan ban berlumpur dan adrenalin berbahan bakar terbaik di Bali—mengadakan acara akhir pekan berkemah yang sangat dinanti-nantikan. Mereka menamakannya “ The Wild,” dan jujur saja, tidak ada kata yang lebih pas dari itu.

Ini bukan sekadar acara; ini adalah petualangan wajib bagi siapa saja yang mencintai tanah, tantangan, dan persahabatan yang hanya bisa terjalin saat tertawa melihat teman lain terjatuh.

Hal tentang The Wild adalah misterinya. Kamu tidak tahu ke mana akan pergi, bagaimana sampai di sana, atau apa yang akan kamu temui—seperti hidup, tapi dengan lebih banyak asap knalpot.

Tahun ini, The Wild yang berlangsung pada 7 Desember 2024, mengumpulkan 135 pecinta motor enduro, trail, dan cross di Desa Kopi, Tabanan. Tepat pukul 9 pagi, kami berangkat menuju Desa Gesing, Singaraja. Rute tetap dirahasiakan hingga hari acara, meningkatkan sensasi penasaran dan antusiasme. Dengan dibagi menjadi beberapa kelompok kecil, kami melengkapi diri dengan perlengkapan motocross lengkap untuk menghadapi tantangan musim hujan.

Perjalanan? Murni magis. Jalur berkelok melalui permata tersembunyi Bali, di mana setiap tikungan menawarkan pemandangan yang memukau atau hampir membuat jantung berhenti. Rute tahun ini menghadirkan medan tanah liat merah—dijuluki tanah "keramik" karena teksturnya yang licin dan keras saat basah. Untuk melintasinya, diperlukan teknik khusus yang disebut “paddling the throttle,” sebuah manuver yang mendebarkan dengan motor yang sering bergoyang liar. Dari kejauhan, mungkin terlihat lucu, tetapi saat di atas motor? Ceritanya berbeda.

Setelah menempuh 68 kilometer petualangan liar, kami tiba di perkemahan di puncak bukit yang sudah dipenuhi tenda-tenda peserta lain dan deru knalpot. Destinasi selalu mencuri perhatian, dan yang satu ini tidak terkecuali—tempat tinggi dengan pemandangan 360 derajat yang menakjubkan dari laut, gunung, hingga kota.

Saat hujan turun, tenda-tenda didirikan, dan malam itu diisi dengan berbagi cerita tentang penyelamatan heroik dan kecelakaan yang menggelikan. Dan tentu saja, ada balapan. Bayangkan sekelompok pengendara penuh semangat meluncur di perbukitan dalam kekacauan yang terkontrol. Balapan tahun ini termasuk duel 1 lawan 1 yang seru di sekitar puncak bukit, dengan peserta menyelesaikan dua putaran penuh adrenalin.

Bukan soal menang; ini tentang hadir, tertawa, dan menikmati momen. Para pemenang dan peserta tercepat yang mencapai puncak bukit dirayakan dengan hadiah, tetapi senyuman, persahabatan, dan kebersamaan membuat semua orang merasa seperti juara.

The Wild tahun ini benar-benar sesuai namanya, bahkan lebih. Petualangan, tawa, dan cukup banyak tanah di gigi untuk menyebutnya otentik—kami tidak akan menginginkannya dengan cara lain. Terima kasih yang sebesar-besarnya kepada semua peserta yang menjadikannya pengalaman tak terlupakan. Sampai jumpa di petualangan berikutnya!

Every year, our mates over at Tasix Adventure—Bali’s finest purveyors of muddy tyres and fuel-driven adrenaline—host their much-anticipated camp-out weekend. They’ve named it “Wild,” and honestly, there’s no better word for it.

It’s not just an event; it’s a pilgrimage for anyone who loves dirt, daring, and the kind of camaraderie you can only forge while laughing at someone else’s wipeout.

The thing about Wild is that it’s shrouded in mystery. You don’t know where you’re going, how you’ll get there, or what you’ll find—kind of like life, but with more exhaust fumes.

This year’s Wild, held on Saturday, December 7, 2024, brought together 135 enthusiasts of enduro, trail, and cross motorcycles at Desa Kopi, Tabanan. The route was kept a secret until the event day, heightening the thrill of the unknown. At exactly 9 am, they shared the destination, Desa Gesing, Singaraja, Divided into small groups, we geared up with full motocross kits to tackle the rainy season’s challenges.

The ride? Pure magic. Twisting trails through Bali’s hidden gems, where every turn promised either breathtaking views or breathtaking near-misses. This year’s route featured red clay terrain—nicknamed "ceramic" soil for its slick, hard texture when wet. Navigating it required a special technique called “paddling the throttle,” a nerve-wracking maneuver that had bikes swaying wildly. From a distance, it might have looked hilarious, but on the bike? It was a whole other story.

After 68 kilometres of this wild adventure, we arrived at the hilltop campsite already alive with the buzz of activity and the roar of exhausts. The destination always steals the spotlight, and this one was no exception—a high-altitude perch offering stunning 360-degree views of the sea, mountains, and city.

As the rain came down, tents went up, and the evening was all about swapping stories of heroic saves and laughable crashes. And then there were the races. Picture a pack of overexcited riders tearing up the hillside in what can only be described as controlled chaos. This year’s races included thrilling 1-on-1 duels around the hilltop, with participants pushing through two laps of sheer adrenaline.

It wasn’t just about winning; it was about showing up, laughing, and embracing the moment. The race winners and the fastest hilltop arrivals were celebrated with prizes, but the smiles, the camaraderie, and the shared triumphs made everyone feel like champions.

This year’s Wild lived up to its name and then some. Adventure, laughter, and just enough dirt in your teeth to call it authentic—we wouldn’t have it any other way. A massive thank you to all the participants who made it unforgettable. See you on the next adventure!