The Spanish motorcycle sport federation RFME (Real Federacion Motociclista Espanola – Royal Spanish Motorcycle Federation) has taken the unprecedented step of advising member organisations and affiliated motorcycle clubs to instruct their members to leave their bikes in the garage and don’t even ride for practice during the Coronavirus Pandemic.

These steps have been taken as Spain’s hospitals are struggling to cope with the admissions of patients with the Covid-19 virus which has spread at an alarming rate throughout Spain in the last few weeks.

It won’t be a popular directive with riders, but it does put the sport in a position of being seen to be very responsible when so many lives are at risk. Motorsport comes with risks and even trials riding has risks attached and this is not a good time to sustain an avoidable injury. The federation is urging riders to stay safe during the crisis and not ride at all.

At a time when emergency services are stretched to the limit, it calls for a measured approach with a coherent plan of action, the RFME have done this using social media to publicise their advice.

They are quoted as saying on facebook:

“Once declared the state of alarm we cannot overload the health system with a possible accident completely avoidable, the best thing is that we park our bikes for a few days stay at home. Which doesn’t mean we park our hobby, that’s why during these days we are going to make you some recommendations to make the quarantine more bearable, on two “virtual” wheels.”

This is also seen as a defensive or protective course of action taken by the national motorcycling governing body, as it is believed that Spanish Emergency Powers Legislation classify sporting injuries as an act of negligence, without appropriate insurance cover, if sustained during a period when emergency powers are in place and carry significant penalties.