Gold Coast Motorcycle Expo a Success
22,000 enthusiasts attended the inaugural 2009 Australian Motorcycle Expo Gold Coast last week.
Gold Coast Expo a Huge Success
22,000 enthusiasts experienced the sights and sounds of the inaugural 2009 Australian Motorcycle Expo Gold Coast last week.
The first-run event eclipsed the Brisbane (2007) attendance figures by an incredible margin, with organisers Exhibitions and Trade Fairs reporting a 65% increase in visitors.
Exhibits, displays and action demonstrations made full use of the Gold Coast Convention and Exhibition Centre’s interior and exterior facilities, with constant crowds adding to the family-friendly atmosphere. Occasional inclement weather couldn’t dampen showgoers spirits – and neither could an equally gloomy economic climate – exhibitors reported record interest in new motorcycles, scooters, ATVs and PWCs plus products, accessories and services.
Event Manager Mark Petersen said the Expo had the potential to become one of the Gold Coast’s premier events after an exceptionally successful staging last week. “The Australian Motorcycle Expo Gold Coast shows that the industry is thriving despite tough financial times,” said Petersen. “We’re ecstatic with the response from visitors, who really embraced the event and all it had to offer.”
“The venue’s extension allowed us to expand on exhibition space and demonstration areas, and the locality made the various test ride options a favourite with visitors. All exhibitors should be congratulated on the quality of their displays, including manufacturers and distributors who went to amazing lengths to secure the newest and most exclusive motorcycles for public viewing.”
“We were privileged to host some very special guests, including Troy Bayliss, Chris Vermeulen, Jamie Whincup and Seth Enslow, who were very popular with visitors.” “We’re already looking forward to next year, with every indication the event will return and already a huge amount of interest in bookings.”
The Yamaha Action Arena gave visitors a chance to check out some high-flying freestyle motocross from the Showtime FMX team, as well as the antics of the Brown’s Grafix mini moto riders. The grassy banks provided a perfect view of the Yamaha Water Zone where a host of renowned PWC pilots put on regular and spectacular shows of skill and precision.
Dylan Robb took out top honours in the East Coast Custom Australian Custom Bike Championships, with his entry from Melbourne capturing the judges’ attention as national champion. Brendon ‘BJ’ Kelly continued his winning ways in the National Pogo Championships, presented by Motostik and Dirt Action, capping off his routine with a crowd-pleasing backflip that earnt him first prize and a trip to the Las Vegas Supercross in May.
A local winner was drawn in the $15,000 Honda Voucher promotion, with 15-year-old Daniel Notley-Cole from the Gold Coast unable to believe his luck when his entry was announced. He now has the envious task of choosing Honda products to the value of $15,000, and said he was eyeing off a new dirt bike.
