KIWI RIDER 08 2019 VOL.1 | Page 33

I RIDE MOTO GYMKHANA – EMMANUELLA REID How long have you been riding Moto Gymkhana? I joined Moto Gymkhana at the start of May this year, when I saw them practising in a car park on my way home and was curious enough to take a look. They invited me to join in, so I did. I’d had a bad incident in April going round a corner, and figured that this would help me learn safer techniques for cornering and more control over my bike. What benefits do you get? I have found it’s not just highly enjoyable but also very beneficial to my riding. Not only has it raised my confidence and peripheral vision awareness, but it has also improved my technique. The skill levels in my cornering, brake and throttle control have improved astronomically. What are your goals? Now that I have discovered the thrill of riding with others and competing not just against them but also myself, my goal is simply to keep getting better. To beat my personal records and move up through the ranks of the international Moto Gymkhana World Competition. What is the secret? There’s no secret. It’s all about fun and practise – and if you have that then you’ll gain the skills that can lead to success. I love meeting up with the other riders and having a good time, or just practising the basic manoeuvres by myself after work. I guess the secret is that if you’re not enjoying it, then no matter how “good” you might get, you’ll never really become successful. KIWI RIDER 33