An open letter to the Victorian Government.
Please, please give visiting motorcyclists a bit of a break.
Many of the riders who attended the Moto GP on Philip Island over the last few years feel victimised as a result of being checked, checked and rechecked for rego, roadworthy and alcohol. It’s nothing for a group of attendees to be pulled over three times between the NSW border and Cowes.
The event is in danger of evaporating due to lack of attendees as many I’ve talked to are fed up with what they have described as harassment. While making sure riders are safe and get home in one piece is vital, singling them out is not helpful.
It’s like large groups of football fans getting searched as they got on and off the train on the way to the G. Or F1 goers getting a “canary stop” and a group frisk up on the roads in. There would be acres of spat dummies.
Modern riders are older, sensible and sober. We have too much to lose by being idiots.
Riders often comment that they feel like a bunch of wallets on legs, ripe for the taking.
Please don’t exacerbate that feeling by making them feel singled out and unfairly targeted on the ride in and out.
Andy “Strapz” White