As a motorcycle enthusiast, it’s inevitable that you have your preferences in terms of motorcycle sport, while there are many other strands that completely pass you by. Then you delve a little deeper, and you understand that there are some incredible athletes out there performing some pretty amazing and gravity-defying stunts on two wheels that really should be consistently on your radar.
Around 30 of those athletes are in Johannesburg this weekend, competing in the King of the Whip competition at Montecasino. This is an event that has grown year-on-year for the past ten, twelve years into an event that attracts riders from all over the world, cementing its status as a must-attend event.
On the Thursday before the Saturday event, the riders were introduced to the press and select members of the public at World of Yamaha, and it was fascinating. Naturally, all the competing men and women are disgustingly young – maybe that’s the secret of their success! – but they all possess a skill that is as beyond mere mortals such as you and I as the MotoGP or WSBK riders we watch week-in, week-out.
This is a sport that is constantly evolving, as riders push the boundaries of what is physically possible while soaring metres high in the night sky. Listening to them, it is clear that what they bring to the competition is as varied as their accents, and they are all constantly thinking about how to add something new to their routines.
If you have never witnessed first-hand what these guys and girls can do with two wheels and an engine and a scarily-steep ramp, then you really owe it to yourself to make an effort to attend a King of the Whip event. 6,000 tickets have been sold for the 2025 event at Montecasino, giving you some indication of the popularity that has been generated over the years. If you miss out this year, then definitely make a plan for 2026.
