Retro racing | Malle Beach Race back in Margate for another round of inappropriate action this May

The Malle Mile Beach Race will return to the sands of Margate for another round of “appropriately inappropriate” retro racing action this May. 

• Related: Guy Martin crashes out of beach race

Entering its fifth year, the event will run over the weekend of 18-19 May and invites racers to pit their custom, classic and electric two-wheeled machinery head-to-head along the sandy beach.  

Despite the competition element, Malle Co-Founder Robert Nightingale points out: “The focus is on completing, not competing… no one is expected to win, in fact, we’ll all lose together, in style.”

Nightingale described the event as a: “Celebration of motorcycle culture. We try to encourage wilder and more inappropriate bikes every year. The Malle Beach Race is all about getting involved.”  

Competitors are split into six classes, with last year’s eclectic mix of machinery ranging from a 1912 classic, through to modified modern sportsbikes, including Suzuki GSX-Rs and Honda Fireblades.  

It should be well attended too, with 2023’s event drawing around 250 competitors and 4000 spectators to the Kent town. Tickets for this year are available at £18 to watch and £78 for those wanting to race. 

Nightingale added: “We want to encourage people into the sport, but we know it can be intimidating to jump straight into it, so we’ve set up a ‘Starting Grid’ with tutorials on how to ride in the sand.” 

Saturday’s action gets underway at 12pm, kicking off with ‘The Beach Sprint’, followed by ‘Malle Go Round’ flat-track event, ‘Motopolo’ tournament and ‘The Double’ switchback drag race. 

After each day’s racing the Sunset Beach Race after party gets underway where racers and spectators alike can enjoy cocktails and music at the Malle Townhouse.  

Sunday’s schedule also coincides with the Margate Distinguished Gentlemans Ride – an event to raise money and awareness for men’s mental health charity Movember. 

Margate Beach Race represents the opening round of Malle’s season. Later in the year, three further events will be held across Europe, including a yet undisclosed rally that promises to be their most ambitious undertaking yet! 

Go to the Malle London website for more.