Mick Doohan's Motocoaster

Mick Doohan's Motocoaster is a 605-metre (1,985 ft) long motorcycle roller coaster at Dreamworld on the Gold Coast, Queensland, Australia.[2] The A$10 million ride, constructed by Intamin and opened to the public in September 2007, is associated with Australian motorcyclist Mick Doohan.[2][3] It is the first motorcycle coaster in Australia, the first Intamin MotorBike Launch Coaster worldwide, and the first to feature life-size replicas of 500 cc racing bikes.[2][4] In its debut year, the coaster was "narrowly beaten by a 1989 Vekoma ride for the title of world's worst steel roller coaster": the coaster ranked 356th out of the 357 coasters in the Best Steel Roller Coaster Poll.[5] The ride was rated higher in 2008, coming in at number 278 of 392.[6]

Mick Doohan's Motocoaster
Mick Doohan's Motocoaster track layout
Dreamworld
LocationDreamworld
Park sectionMain Street
Coordinates27°51′46″S 153°19′1″E
StatusOperating
Opening date30 September 2007[1]
CostA$10,000,000[1]
General statistics
TypeSteel – Launched – Motorbike
ManufacturerIntamin
ModelFamily MotorBike Launch Coaster
Lift/launch systemTire Propelled Launch
Height7 m (23 ft)
Length605 m (1,985 ft)
Speed72 km/h (45 mph)
Duration55 sec[1]
Capacity746[1] riders per hour
Acceleration0 to 72 km/h in 2 seconds
Height restriction51 in (130 cm)
Trains2 trains with 8 cars. Riders are arranged 2 across in a single row for a total of 16 riders per train.
Q4U available
Single rider line available
Mick Doohan's Motocoaster at RCDB
Pictures of Mick Doohan's Motocoaster at RCDB

Construction

The coaster was constructed in the Rivertown section of the park, on the site of the Avis Vintage Cars ride, requiring their relocation to the Australian Wildlife Experience section of the park.[7] The ride was the first constructed at Dreamworld in three years.[3]

Looking along the tire drive launch track.

Opening

The coaster opened to the public on 30 September 2007. Margaret Keech, The current minister for the Gold Coast, and Stacey McMahon, a 125 cc rider and spokesperson for the GMC Australian Grand Prix, were there for the ribbon-cutting ceremony.[4] Mick Doohan did not personally attend the event due to participation in the Japan Grand Prix, but submitted a pre-recorded video in which he stated: "I am extremely proud to see the end result, I have really enjoyed working with Dreamworld, the new attraction truly celebrates and pays respect to a great Australian sport and its achievements."[2][4]

Financial impact

Marketing for the ride contributed to a decline in Dreamworld's operating margins during the final two-quarters of 2007.[8]

Through to 26 March 2008, the ride is credited with increasing Dreamworld's revenue by 8.8% to A$50.68 million.[9] Park attendance by local residents spiked significantly following the launch of the coaster, although there was a decline in both interstate and international visitors during the same period.[9][8]

Ride mechanics
Testing unit at the start of the queue for the coaster. The photograph shows how the rider is restrained.

The ride is an Intamin MotorBike Launch Coaster.[10] The track is 605 metres (1,985 ft) long and features 18 banks, bends, and turns.[2] Riders sit on full-scale replica 500 cc racing bikes arranged in eight cars with two riders per car.[2] This includes 14 motorcycle seats and two sidecar seats in the rear.[2][11] There are two trains, which are launched by a flywheel track.[2] The sidecars were initially designed to be in the middle of the trains. Riders are held on the ride through a clamshell restraint system, where the top part of the bike folds over the rider's legs.

The ride has two cameras: one on the launch run, the other halfway through the ride. The ride's queue features informational decorations that teach about the history of motorcycle racing.[3] Riders must be 130 centimetres (51 in) in height to ride on the main motorcycle cars and 110 centimetres (43 in) tall to ride in the sidecars.[2] The ride is estimated to handle 746 passengers per hour, and has a launch speed of 72 kilometres per hour (45 mph) in two seconds due to its hydraulic system, the second of its kind worldwide.[2][11]

See also

References
  1. "Mick Doohan's Motocoaster (Dreamworld)". Parkz. Retrieved 6 September 2016.
  2. Wilson, Richard (28 September 2007). "Mick Doohan Motocoaster launches at Dreamworld". Roller-coaster.com.au. Retrieved 21 December 2008.
  3. Ottley, Stephen (24 August 2007). "Mick Doohan offers his name for a wild ride". Herald Sun. Retrieved 21 December 2008.
  4. Harmer, Daniel (26 September 2007). "Mick Doohan Motocoaster Ready To Open at Dreamworld". ThemeParkNewsDirect.com. Archived from the original on 3 March 2016. Retrieved 21 December 2008.
  5. Wilson, Richard (2008). Motocoaster comes in second last in worldwide coaster poll. Retrieved on 30.12.09 from
  6. Hawker, Mitch. Detailed Steel Roller Coaster Poll Results 2008. Retrieved on 30.12.09 from
  7. "Dreamworld to launch 'Mick Doohan Motocoaster' ride" (Press release). Macquarie Leisure Trust Group. 27 July 2007. Archived from the original on 13 August 2008. Retrieved 21 December 2008.
  8. Allen, Lisa (29 February 2008). "Dreamworld draws fewer foreign visitors". The Australian Financial Review. Abstracted at BusinessSpectator, accessed 21 December 2008.
  9. "Trust revs up thrills to drive earnings". Goldcoast.com.au. 29 February 2008. Retrieved 21 December 2008.
  10. "Family Launch Coaster: MotorBike". Intamin. Retrieved 21 December 2008.
  11. "Mick Doohan's Motorcoaster". Roller-coaster.com.au. Retrieved 21 December 2008.
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