Motorcycle hillclimb racing is one of the most accessible and exciting disciplines in French motorsport. A stretch of mountain road, a motorcycle, a stopwatch: the concept is simple, but the sensations are intense. If you want to taste competition without committing to a full circuit championship, this is the perfect discipline.
What is a Hillclimb?
A hillclimb is a timed ascent on a closed road section, usually between 1 and 5 km, with a positive elevation gain. Each rider starts alone and must set the best time. Two timed runs on Sunday, the best one counts. It's pure riding: you, your bike and the road.
Hillclimbs have existed for cars for decades, but the motorcycle version is booming in France with an increasingly packed calendar.
Categories
FFM (French Motorcycle Federation) regulations provide several categories:
- Category 1: stock production bikes — you can come with your road bike!
- Category 2: modified bikes (exhaust, mapping, suspension)
- Category 3: prepared bikes (modified frame, built engine)
- Sidecar: yes, sidecars climb hills too!
- Classic: pre-1990 bikes (vintage atmosphere)
License and Registration
To participate, you need: 1. An FFM Competition license or a day license (~60-80 EUR). Annual license costs about 200 EUR. 2. Event registration (~50-80 EUR per race). 3. A technical inspection on race day (brakes, tires, guards, noise level). 4. Mandatory gear: leather suit (1 or 2-piece with zip), boots, gloves, back protector and approved helmet.
