Motocross has a surprisingly long and strong history in Thailand. Supposedly introduced to the country by American GIs after the Vietnam war, it hosted an infamous international supercross series in the 80s that was wildly popular with pro riders for the off-track erm… ‘activities’. It has has even hosted a round of FIM World Motocross Championship for the past two years.

“Thailand hosted an infamous international supercross series in the 80s that was wildly popular with pro riders for the off-track erm… ‘activities’.”

As in India, motocross bikes are a luxury many would-be motocross racers simply can’t afford. What they do have access to though is cheap scooters by the millions, which they strip-down, soup-up and wring the crap out of in the perfectly-named Grasshopper class like the teenagers that terrorise your local ring-road on Friday night.

Although unlike your local boy racers, the moped class is half-time entertainment at the Thai MX Grand Prix!