The 2008 Yamaha Blue Light Ride

The 2008 Yamaha Blue Light Ride conditions have been the best seen over the history of this event. With a good lead up of rain and an overnight top up the night before the event, the terrain was as good as it gets. The event incorporated two 60 kilometres loops of perfect forest trails around the mountains of Noojee two hours east of Melbourne Victoria.

With 730 riders being scrutineered and checked for licence, registration and bike noise testing, in conjunction with the DSE, by 9am, the first riders hit the trail by 9.30 am.

The Department of Sustainability and Environment were on board to lend a hand and even joined in riding the event. Two members of the Victoria Police Special Solo Unit (Trail Bike Squad) also joined in on the ride.

Something looked funny at the start Englsih comedian Ross Noble was a suprise turnout for the ride.

The tracks were perfect with the recent rain some said a bit wet and slippery but if you get to choose between wet or dusty give me wet any day.

The first loop was pretty muddy with the first slippery corner claiming lots of victims and and the noticeable absence of snotty uphills meant the traffic flowed pretty well.

The first loop had lots of good flowing open track and a taste of single trail with some snooty downhills thrown in to keep you on your toes.

The last section coming back into the parc ferme was a hit with all and sundry and riders likened it to a special test and miost couldn't wait to do it again on the second loop.

Things had dried out some what by the second loop Some long steep downhill tracks with deep rutts and boulders took thier toll on the riders. The downhills were a task to navigate down with carage everywhere quite a few punters ended up face down or ass up.

It was then into a bit more fast open tracks covered some of the mornings single track again (ruts included) and by 4 pm all riders were back at the park to join in the many giveaways.

The event enjoys huge support from local Lions clubs, Neerim Junction Hall Committee, Country Fire Authority, SES, St Johns, Rural Ambulance Service and 109 Signals Squadron from the Army Reserve, all assisting in one way or another in making the event work.

Yamaha Australia was the major sponsor, donating a brand new 2009 WRF 450 to one lucky rider. With other prizes and giveaways from Fox, Motul, Shift, Dunlop, POD mx, Holeshot Images, Australian Trail Bike Tours and Altegra Shades.