Tens of thousands of motorcyclists descend on Pattaya Friday for the 19th Burapa Bike Week which this year dropped its “ride for peace” in favor of a “song of freedom”.
Deputy Mayor Ronakit Ekasingh, Prasan Nikaji, president of the Siam Motorbikes and head of the Burapa Motorcycle Club, police, tourism and former city officials announced details on the Feb. 12-13 festival at Jomtien Beach’s Eastern National Indoor Sports Stadium on Soi Chaiyapruek 2 at a press conference Feb. 5 at Central Festival Pattaya Beach.
Deputy Mayor Ronakit Ekasingh, Prasan Nikaji, president of the Siam Motorbikes and head of the Burapa Motorcycle Club, police, tourism and former city officials announce details for this week’s Burapa Bike Week.
Prasan said the “ride for peace” that highlighted Bike Week since 2009 was dropped this year in favor of a “song for freedom”, reflecting this year’s emphasis on rock music.
The highlight of the concert lineup will be the appearance both days of Guns ‘N’ Roses guitarist Ron “Bumblefoot” Thai, who will headline a local band of expat and Thai rockers.
The bikers still will parade through Pattaya and Jomtien starting at 3 p.m. Friday, beginning at Pattaya City Hall and rolling down to Beach Road to Bali Hai Pier, heading onto Thappraya Road to Jomtien Beach Road, left onto Soi Chaiyapruek and then to Sukhumvit Road to turn onto Soi Chaiyapruek 2 and end at the stadium grounds.
Pattaya’s police chief, Pol. Col. Sukthat Pumpunmuang said officers from four area stations will manage the parade to minimize traffic congestion, as well as provide security at the two-day event.
Police nationwide, he added, were working to facilitate Burapa-bound bikers crossing over the border from Cambodia, Laos and Myanmar, as this year’s festival has an ASEAN emphasis.
Atapol Taweesunthorn, assistant director for the Tourism Authority of Thailand’s Pattaya office, said the launch of the ASEAN Economic Community last year positions Pattaya as a key biker attraction for Southeast Asia.
This year, bikers from across the region will unit to advocate riding to reduce pollution and increase use of helmets.
