Thousands of motorcyclists are already being received with “great friendship” by the Motoclube de Faro

There will be «four great days of promoting motorcycling», but also of «a lot of friendship and knowing how to welcome». A 42nd International Meeting of the Motorcycle Club of Faro has already started and will liven up Vale das Almas, the party area, in the area of Faro, but also the Algarve capital until next Sunday.

In 2024, the organization prepared to welcome 20 motorcycles, which is equivalent to this number of people «and a few thousand more», many of whom will camp at the party venue, located in the middle of Mata do Ludo.

The organization's expectations were expressed by José Amaro, the president of the Motoclube de Faro, at the traditional press conference to launch the concentration, which took place today, Thursday, the 18th, in the morning.

«There were many advance registrations, some 7 or 8 thousand», he revealed. However, the organization realized that, by mid-afternoon today, 12.300 registrations out of the 20 available had already been sold.

«I hope that 20 motorcycles come, but no more than that, as we cannot accommodate more», said the president of the Motoclube.

At stake are safety issues, particularly for those who camp, taking into account that space limitations mean that camping is always “a problem”.

According to Zé Amaro, the Motoclube has been prevented from using land in Vale das Almas, in the area behind the main stage, with the Forest Nature Conservation Institute (ICNF) claiming that there are natural values ​​there that are worth preserving and safeguard.

«One of the arguments has to do with the dunes, which there is nothing there, and with a plant that doesn't even exist», assured the Motoclube leader, who said that a study had already been carried out «by two biologists and a specialist from University of Algarve» that supports this statement.

This work will be delivered to the institute and Zé Amaro hopes that the ICNF, next year, «can give authorization to use it».

«There are always a few thousand more people that we manage to get there. In terms of accommodation, the more space we have, the more security there is,” she assured.

Meanwhile, a new camping space will be launched this year, on land belonging to the Airport of Faro and which are used by scouts to make camps.

Otherwise, the concentration will continue the same usual model, with entertainment and concerts in the venue, but also in the city of Faro, in an operation that involves extensive logistics.

For this - and apart from the more specialized work, which is contracted to companies -, the organization counts on the help of «around 1200 volunteers», including members and friends of the Motoclube.

These are the people who year after year do the bulk of the work and allow the concentration to take place and bring thousands of people to Faro.

Some of these volunteers are health professionals, who ensure the operation of the existing field hospital on the premises.

«This year, we will have 42 doctors, who will work in shifts, four or five at a time, and 100 nurses, paramedics and ambulance crew. This year, we have the device reinforced with more resources from the Red Cross. We will even have a Mobile Health Unit», revealed, for his part, doctor João Ildefonso, from the organization.

Rogério Bacalhau, president of the Chamber of Faro, an entity that «supports this event in terms of security and licensing», highlighted, for its part, «the very large impact on the economy of the municipality and the region» that the event has.

On the same occasion, Zé Amaro, the eternal president of this Farense association – is the person responsible for the Motoclube de Faro since its foundation, 42 years ago – announced its intention to pass the test and said that it will not present or join any list in the November Motoclube elections.

Whoever comes next, he said “will be happy to find an association free of debt, with everything in good order”, but also the responsibility of continuing a legacy built over more than four decades and which publicized the name of Faro all around the world.

«I hope that the next ones maintain the event with the same spirit and that they do not turn the Motoclube into a company», he wished.

And what is the spirit of concentration?

«We are a group of guys who like to ride motorbikes. This [concentration] was always a bit silly and it was slowly that it grew and became what it is today,” she joked.

Photos: Beatriz Bento | Sul Informação