Highway Patrol and MotoSchool Go Head-to-Head
The hugely popular Beat the Blue community event returned to Sydney Motorsport Park recently and, despite wet weather, almost 20,000 fans turned out to enjoy the unique family event.
Beat The Blue is an annual community engagement initiative, now in its eighth year, that brings New South Wales Highway Patrol officers and the public together in a series of friendly competitions on two and four wheels at Sydney Motorsport Park. The event, which continues to grow in popularity, also featured Yamaha kids come-and-try, a car and bike show-and-shine, a dedicated kids’ zone, food trucks, displays from NSW Police specialist units, and a spectacular light show. This year’s edition also raised more than $70,000 for Police Legacy.
This year, Yamaha Motor Australia—via its supported provider MotoSchool, which holds regular on-track coaching days at Sydney Motorsport Park—took part in the event for the first time. A new motorcycle obstacle course and slalom challenge saw the NSW Highway Patrol’s best riders on their police-spec Yamaha FJR1300s go head-to-head with MotoSchool coaches aboard a variety of Yamaha motorcycles and scooters. The goal was simple: for the lead-out rider to open a gap on the pursuing Highway Patrol officer, with flashing blue and red lights adding to the spectacle. The extremely tight and technical course demanded precision, balance, and control, and the competition was fierce throughout the evening.
While the event carried an atmosphere of camaraderie and fun, the stakes were real—pride, bragging rights, and the chance to showcase the skill required to master a motorcycle under pressure. For MotoSchool coach Matt Shirvington, the challenge was particularly unique, as he is also a NSW Highway Patrol officer.
Photos courtesy of Pesti Pictures and Chequered Flag
It didn't' take long for the tight course to draw a large crowd of spectators. Opinions on who was gaining the upper hand—police or coaches—varied depending on who was asked.
As a bonus, the Highway Patrol riders staged an impressive display of team precision riding, tackling tight turns, cone weaves, braking zones, and figure-eight manoeuvres on their large and powerful Yamaha FJR1300 machines. With crowds lining the safety fences, every clipped cone drew gasps and plenty of good-natured ribbing.
The police FJR1300s were an imposing sight running nose to tail on the compact course, their size and weight adding an extra degree of difficulty. In contrast, the MotoSchool coaches competed on Yamaha models better suited to low-speed agility, creating an intriguing battle of contrasts.
NSW Highway Patrol officers are renowned for their ability to safely handle the Yamaha FJR1300 motorcycles they use daily on the road. Beat The Blue gave the public a chance to witness that expertise up close. Despite the impressive size of the fully equipped police FJR1300s, the “boys in blue” demonstrated remarkable control and surprising fluidity.
The MotoSchool coaches - spend their week coaching riders of all levels to sharpen their track and roadcraft skills - brought their own brand of precision to the competition. They relished the opportunity to put theory into practice against the police riders in a controlled, safe, and legal environment. The coaches proved to be every bit as fast, smooth, and precise as their Highway Patrol counterparts.
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One of the thousands of spectators at the event was Matthew Ferry, General Manager Sales & Marketing Land Mobility, who said Yamaha Motor Australia is proud to support such an important community initiative, adding: “It’s a fantastic way to showcase Yamaha’s products in the hands of extremely talented riders while strengthening the connection between police, motorcyclists, and the broader community.”
Haydan Parker, CEO of MotoSchool, said plans are already underway to expand MotoSchool's involvement in the 2026 event. “We couldn’t be happier with the way our first experience with Beat The Blue went,” he said. “We’ve already started planning for next year’s motorcycle challenge, which will give members of the public the chance to take on the police riders on the tight layout. It’s going to be a great show.”
Beat The Blue is a family-friendly event that brings together police and riders in a positive, community-focused environment, promoting road safety and mutual respect. Learn more at the official web page: beattheblue.org