Normandy Off Road - Gorges

Normandy Off Road sits on Rue de la Liberte in Gorges in the Manche department, inside the regional nature park of the Marais du Cotentin et du Bessin. The operator describes a motocross track of 1460 metres running over the sand of a former quarry plus grass and woodland sections, along with two enduro specials with natural obstacles and elevation change. To ride you need an FFM licence or a circuit pass; booking online is recommended, walk-ins are accepted and then paid by cash or cheque. Separate time slots are reserved for children. A full day costs 24 euros for adults and 15 euros for children, a half day 15 and 10 euros respectively. On weekdays the track can be hired for 600 euros a day, a weekend exclusively for 1200 euros. Bike and kit rental is 250 euros a day; the operator also runs training programmes for motocross, enduro and rally, and there is a shop and a cafe on site. Quarry sand is deep and works as the day goes on: it builds waves and ruts, the rear swims, and you ride more on the throttle than on the brake. When the rear pogos and swims in deep sand, our most common cause is a rebound that is too fast for sand - slow it down so the rear stops building up a rhythm of its own.