Beat the Blue is a free annual community engagement initiative that brings the NSW Motorcycle Highway Patrol and the public together in a series of friendly competitions on two and four wheels. The event, which continues to grow in popularity, also featured a car and bike show-and-shine, dedicated kids' zone, food trucks, displays from NSW Police specialist units and a spectacular light show.

Held under blue skies and summer-like sunshine, the 2026 event benefited from a new 3pm start time, making it more accessible for families and allowing visitors to make the most of the afternoon and evening activities.

Located in the centre of the family precinct, the Yamaha's Kids Come and Try Activation (KCAT) quickly became one of the most popular attractions of the day. The inflatable pop-up riding arena provided young riders with a safe and controlled environment to experience two and four-wheel fun for the first time.

Youngsters aged between four and nine years climbed aboard Yamaha PW50 and TT-R50 fun bikes, while children aged six to nine years also had the opportunity to ride a Yamaha YFZ50 fun ATV. Each participant was fully equipped with Yamaha riding gear including boots, jersey, pants, chest protector, helmet, goggles and gloves.

Professional coaching was provided by Jades Oates and Brendan Krebs from Oates MX, supported by Off-Road Riding Institute coaches and Yamaha enduro stars Jess Gardiner and Jeremy Carpentier, who guided first-time riders through their introduction to motorcycling.

Riders were able to pre-book their ride sessions on the day and complete their indemnity forms online, helping streamline the sign-on process and reduce queues on the day.

Speaking after the event, Yamaha Motor Australia Customer Activation Coordinator Jake Belford said the activation provided an ideal opportunity to introduce motorcycling to families who may never have previously considered the sport. "More than 65 of the children who rode at the event were experiencing a motorcycle for the very first time," Jake said. "This is exactly what the Kids Come and Try program is all about. Events like Beat the Blue allow us to connect with families who are outside the traditional motorcycling audience and introduce them to riding in a safe and controlled environment.”

Programs like KCAT are an important part of Yamaha's Customer for Life strategy and Step-Up pathway, giving young riders their first experience on a motorcycle and helping create the next generation of riders.

For the first time, Yamaha's Genuine Accessories team was also on site with a Lifestyle Collection display located at the entrance to the Kids Come and Try activation. Staffed by Karah Tonissoo and Kate Hardman, the display gave visitors the opportunity to browse official Yamaha merchandise and lifestyle products while adding another Yamaha touchpoint within the family precinct.

The activation Is a huge logistical challenge, requiring an enormous amount of planning, equipment and staff to deliver, so a huge thank you to Sian Hopkins, Franki Fourie and the Yamaha Land Mobility team, Jades Oates, Brendan Krebs, Jess Gardiner and Jeremy Carpentier for their contribution and support throughout the day.

MotoSchool was also back at Beat the Blue, fielding a team of Yamaha-mounted coaches who took on the NSW Motorcycle Highway Patrol in the event's popular slalom competition. Throughout the afternoon, Highway Patrol officers also performed a series of precision synchronised riding displays aboard their Yamaha FJR1300 police motorcycles, demonstrating the impressive bike-handling skills used in day-to-day police duties.

Following the success of this year's activation, Yamaha is already looking at ways to expand the Kids Come and Try program for next year's event, including increasing the number of PW50 fun bikes available to ensure even more young riders have the opportunity to enjoy their first experience on a Yamaha.