Malle’s appropriately inappropriate Margate Beach races
Words and images courtesy Malle London
The annual Malle Mile Beach Race on Margate Sands is the inappropriate motorcycle beach race of the year as custom, classic & electric motorcycles race head-to-head. This year’s races took place over two days in mid-May with an array of different race formats including; the sprint, the double, the Malle go round and the Motopolo tournament.
The racing kicked off on Saturday morning, after low tide. The sprint was a head-to-head drag race over an 1/8-mile course. the double was on a ¼-mile course where riders again raced head-to-head but this time doubled back at the eighth mile marker to get back to the line. The Malle Go Round featured 10 motorcycles racing on a small circuit – with a Le Mans-style running start. Competition was keen in every racing category and class but above all, fun and the huge variety of motorcycles chosen for the races was beyond belief. Yep, you might expect classic scrambles bikes or even modern ‘crossers on the beach, but four-cylinder sportsbikes, choppers, bobbers, and scooters? C’mon!
After racing finished there was the traditional the Beach Race sunset after-party, then Sunday brought more racing with the podium awards held on the beach as high tide rolled in to signal the end of the event for another year.
There was Motopolo too, Malle’s motorcycling-style take on Euro 2024, but one hell of a lot more entertaining to watch, with teams of riders on inappropriate bikes chasing a huge football around the beach.
The Beach Race village was as you might expect: music with amazing live DJ’s creating the racing sound track to keep the Beach Races rocking all weekend. There were brand exhibitions; custom bikes; and, of course, the lubrication station, coz every beach party needs a well-stocked bar!
MALLE THANKS
Robert & Jonny, Malle founders, also posted this message on their website after the event: “Thank you to every single rider and guest for making this beach race the best one yet! we didn’t think it could get better than last year, but with 301 racers, more guests, parties, dancing, photographers, the Margate DGR, sparkling commentary and a paddle tyre on the final finish line. It was a wild weekend of beautiful beach racing!
“Thank you to the Rag & Bone Man, our official partners, and the Malle Marshal team for their un-ending support and enabling us to create the greatest beach race experience in the known universe.
“Congratulations to every racer for making the race and to all of us who lost together, in style. Congratulations to Jody of Thornton-Hundred for taking the win in a dramatic Derby finish on the Sunday night!
“The official Malle Mile Beach Race film 2024 will be coming out very soon too!
“A big sandy hug and a salty high five from all of us!”
*Malle London’s next big event, billed as ‘a non-stop celebration of the speed, music and are of the motorcycle culture’ and embracing inappropriate motorcycles racing on dirt surfaces is the 10th Anniversary Malle Mile, at Grimsthorpe Castle, near Bourne, Lincolnshire on July 18-21. More details: mallelondon.com