Motorcycle racing at the Paris Olympics

Did you know that motorcycle racing was part of the Paris Olympics? No, we’re not talking about the 2024 Olympics currently happening in Paris, but rather the 1900 Summer Olympic Games that were also held in the City of Love.

While events such as the Motocross des Nations and International Six Days of Enduro are the most notable modern races with a representative element, the 1900 Olympics may have been the first example of motorcycle racing on a truly international level.

But the inclusion of motorcycling at the 1900 Games is not so clear-cut.

The Games of the II Olympiad, also known as Paris 1900, were the second modern Olympic Games held after the inaugural games in Athens in 1896.

Held as part of the 1900 Paris Exposition world’s fair, the 1900 Olympic Games were more loosely organised compared to today’s Games.

Unlike today, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) at the time provided no real distinction between sports, so it was unclear which sports were classified as “Olympic” and which were not.

Some events at the 1900 Games that are still featured today included Swimming, Athletics, Cycling, Equestrian, Archery, Gymnastics, Rowing, Fencing, and Shooting – just to name a few. Other sports that no longer feature include Cricket, Tug of War, Pelota, and Polo.

In the years since, all of the aforementioned sports have been deemed to be the “official” Olympic sports of the 1900 Games.

But due to the loose nature of the Games, there were many other sporting events that took place during the Paris Exposition that have since been declared “unofficial” and not part of the Olympic events.

These events included some crackers, such as Pigeon Racing, Fire Fighting, Longue Paume, Ballooning, and Cannon Shooting, as well as some more familiar sports such as Life Saving, Baseball, and Fishing.

However, it is the inclusion of Motor Racing, Water Motorsports, and Motorcycle Racing that is most unique, as Olympic rules were changed at some stage in history to essentially outlaw any form of motorsport.

Not a whole lot is known about the motorcycle events at the 1900 Paris Exposition, however some sources say there were two 1-mile races. Two Americans – A Jordan and E Holloway – are believed to have won the A and B races.  

Motorcycles of the time were closer to powered bicycles, and many famous motorcycle brands were yet to appear in 1900. Both Royal Enfield and Indian Motorcycle emerged in 1901, Triumph in 1902, and Husqvarna and Harley-Davidson in 1903.

The Daimler Reitwagen of 1885 is considered to be the first ever motorcycle, while Peugeot is perhaps the oldest motorcycle manufacturer still in existence.

Motorsport appeared once more at the Olympic Games in 1908, in the form of motorboat racing, however the Olympics have promoted only human-powered events ever since.

There have been various attempts over the years to include motorsport again as demonstration sports, but to no real success.

In 2019, the Federation Internationale de Motorcyclisme (FIM) proposed the inclusion of Trial-E (electric trials) at the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris, but nothing eventuated.

Recent efforts by the IOC to attract new audiences could possibly pave the way for the inclusion of motorsport in future Games. Additions to the schedule of events since 2020 include BMX, Skateboarding, Surfing, Sport Climbing, and Breakdancing, all of which have divided traditionalists, but ultimately been well-received.

So, if breakdancing is worthy of Olympic status, then why not motorcycle racing? All eyes are on you Brisbane 2032. Bring on Olympic motocross at QMP!