Over 5,000 attend Miri Bike Week

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BIKE ATTRACTION: Lai (on motorbike) gives the thumbs-up to the event.

MIRI: More than 5,000 people thronged Taman Bulatan here to watch the three-day Miri Bike Week 2012 which started on May 11 and ended Saturday.

Miri mayor Lawrence Lai, who launched the event, was glad to note that the response to the event was overwhelming.

“This year is the third year that Miri Bike Week is hosted. Due to the good response from the public and participants, crowd attendance at the event has shown an increase each year,” he said on Saturday evening.

As of Saturday, more than 500 bikers had arrived and the number was expected to swell to 800, with some participants coming from Thailand, Brunei Darussalam and Indonesia.

“The event surely helps to make Miri a vibrant city in terms of economic and tourism activities besides enhancing closer bilateral ties with the participants’ countries,” he said.

The event themed ‘You Ride You Rock Heavy Metal’ also showcased various events, with the highlight being the ‘Battle of the Bands’ which drew 10 bands vying for the coveted title.

Being part of the celebration to mark Miri May Fest, Miri Bike Week 2012 was organised by Sound Stage Event in collaboration with Head Hunters Club. It was endorsed by Miri City Council, with Maxis being the main sponsor.

Meanwhile, Brunei organiser, Pengiran Azmani Shah Abd Rahman of Independent MC, said his club had been participating in the event since its inception in 2010.

According to him, more than 1,000 registered bikers from Brunei had taken part in the event.

“We also put up three booths selling bikers’ merchandise and accessories at the event site,” he added.