Hat Pavia Sanremo 2018, winning debut for the new stage of the Hat Series

This year the first edition of the HAT Pavia San Remo, “HAT formula” itinerary, created by Over 2000 riders, in the wake of the success achieved by HardAlpitour, today Sanremo Sestiere, now in its tenth edition. A route marked by checkpoints, with a navigation and time formula, not speed, which leads to most of the route off-road, from Pavia to Sanremo, with two participation formulas, the Discovery, which provides a softer and slightly shorter (about 400 km – 40% off road), with an overnight stop in Sassello and the Classic, with a slightly more technical route, with night driving, for a total of almost 24 uninterrupted hours of motorbike riding, stops and rest (approximately 450 km – 50% off road).

We also participated, with one BMW R1200GS under construction Rally, to discover what it means to participate in a HAT and live the experience of a journey, which has the absolute peculiarity of crossing three regions, Lombardy, Piedmont and Liguria, almost entirely off-road, being able to access various off-road routes, which in normal situations would be prohibited for the transit of motorcycles.

Pre-departure from the headquarters Rice Scotti, whose owner wanted to be a sponsor and partner of this event, as he himself is a great enthusiast of overland travel and adventure travel. Yes, because we are talking about adventouring, a term that was born precisely from the efforts of Corrado Capra and Over2000riders, who for years have been working hard to bring this way of travelling, the first absolute exclusive of the lucky few with the possibility of leaving for distant destinations, often outside our continent, to discover wild places with their vehicle, crossing them obstacle after obstacle, inside the borders of our home, enhancing spaces that are often unknown and little considered, right on the outskirts of the Lombardy capital.

Departure after the meeting at Riso Scotti, from the town hall square in Pavia, towards the banks of the Po, after passing along the famous covered bridge and off on fast gravel and gravel dirt roads, towards Bosco Marengo for a stop for lunch. Here the GS reigns supreme, stable on fast speeds, with suspensions that eat up any pothole and a very rigid frame, which helps a lot when riding standing up. We travel quickly, between a field of poppies and a rice field, in total silence, interrupted only by a few pheasants that take flight, disturbed by our engine.

In the afternoon, after lunch, the route becomes a little more challenging, climbing through the woods, in the Ligurian-Piedmontese Apennines, where the heavy rain of the last few days has covered much of the off-road section in mud, in the shade among the trees , with an up and down between land full of pools and canals dug by the water. We travel along mud paths, which climb up to a more technical single-track in the woods, with uphill and downhill sections that challenge the rider more than the bike.

Motorcycles of this size, on an off-road journey like this, must be driven with decision, maintaining a minimum pace that does not jeopardize the balance, always facing the various roughnesses of the terrain with the throttle in hand (and open), so avoid having to give the classic push, which saves single-cylinder bikes at the last minute, but which works a little less with a large twin-cylinder. And then comes a descent on land, marked by large tracks drawn by tractors and channels dug by the rains, a moment of indecision, too much rear brake, the gaze concentrating on the front wheel (instead of remaining "long", as it always must be ), and the motorbike leans. No big deal, the clothes change color and we find ourselves standing again, camouflaged with the muddy landscape. Thanks to my mother we are 1 meters tall and we have no problems getting back on the saddle.

In the woods, on an uphill path of mud and leaves, sometimes with your feet on the ground hoping that the descent won't be the same, the bike climbs without hesitation, with a trickle of gas and the Metzeler Karoo 3s working in the best possible way, thanks to the magic of electronics and Enduro Pro mode. We climb without ever getting "bogged down" in the mud, not even once. Our "GS 1200" lets the horses unload to the ground, gently, getting out of the way here too, on the worst terrain imaginable for a motorbike of this size and without even having to be an excellent rider. Just relax, look forward and give a good dose of accelerator.

So as not to miss anything of the spirit of adventure that the Hats are imbued with, in order to pass we had to move a small tree that had fallen on the path and we found ourselves helping other motorcyclists to get out of the mud, finding ourselves in a group with people we had never seen before. first, waiting for us at route changes and helping us at points where someone couldn't get out alone. Small fords, paths in the woods, dirt roads, some small mule tracks and, above all, great landscapes, on the plateaus, with colors and vegetation that will leave you amazed at being able to experience a real journey, adventouring, between our borders, also crossing Lombardy, region still little known in the sector, therefore great scouting work by the Over2000riders guys.

Another pleasant experience, we lived it by discovering the sociability of the participants, always ready to help each other and share, "share" without likes, but with their presence and "true" smile, the experience of the journey, the small difficulties and the pleasure of fun. Thus we can overcome with the right spirit even the torrential rain (including hail), which in the first part of the second day put everyone to the test, before being welcomed by a warm sun in Sanremo Portosole, the finish line of our Hat, where no the coveted certificate of participation could not be delivered.

You return tired, with some sore muscles, but certainly satisfied and enriched by a unique experience, always, even after having made dozens of trips like this. Off road is in fact capable of always giving new emotions, never the same, unlike a more "banal" journey on asphalt. Certain. The effort is there, it is undeniable and it is part of the game, as are some falls, which usually have no major consequences, but which can happen. The more experienced are also able to remedy a puncture or small mechanical faults independently, with the tools they bring with them and with a spirit that almost tastes like Dakar.

The first Hat Pavia Sanremo was certainly a success, also confirmed by the presence of 90 passionate motorcyclists, a very respectable number for a first edition. Among these, we also note the members of the GS Rookie Team, a team organized by BMW with a selection of riders under 28 on G 310 GS motorcycles, specifically to bring young people towards this type of tourism, largely unknown today to this age group . The pilot father went in the same direction, bringing his 10-year-old son on the Dominator, who experienced the Hat Pavia Sanremo as a protagonist.

This Hat event allows even the less experienced to approach the world of off road in safety, starting to measure themselves and their motorbike, one step at a time, admiring the landscape that only unpaved roads can reach. Of course, it's better to participate with some preparation, perhaps after an enduro course, we've talked about it on these pages several times and there are courses organized by the manufacturers, or by third parties, even for twin-cylinder motorcycles. If you then choose a light and "easy" motorbike for your first experiences, even better, without forgetting, obviously, high boots, protections and knobby tyres. For the rest, serenity and a spirit of discovery will leave you with the pleasure of participating, perhaps in the next one, in the Sanremo Sestriere which will be held in September.

Photo by Massimo Di Trapani and photographicsestriere.com

We used:
LS2 Pioneer Quoterback helmet
Dainese boots, jacket, trousers and gloves