SASEBO NAVAL BASE, Japan — More than 40 licensed motorcyclists roared through the Akasaki Fuel Terminal’s main gate Wednesday afternoon and rumbled down the main drag before stopping on a vacant concrete apron, where police were waiting.

Four volunteer Japanese motorcycle patrolmen were there to share their expertise on motorcycle safety, with topics ranging from techniques for braking from high speeds to turning two-wheelers on a dime and observing traffic laws enforced off post.

“This is just great … they (Japanese) would come out here and offer us the chance to learn from them,” said retired Navy Capt. John Hamilton, a civilian port engineer and motorcyclist who meticulously cares for his massive Triumph Tiger motorcycle.

“Perhaps they’ll also learn something from us, but at least they’ll see that we are interested in riding motorcycles with care … with safety in mind at all times,” Hamilton added.

Bikers connected to Sasebo Naval Base must complete a “strict 23 hours of training” dealing with similar issues and skills and spend the first few days after training restricted to rides on the base. They then may receive a motorcycle license issued by the Sasebo Naval Base Safety Department, said biker enthusiast and Safety Department director James Whalen.

All the hours of training and other measures show dividends, Whalen said, with just two serious accidents in five years.

“It’s an outstanding record, but you hate to see any serious accidents at all,” he said.

Three of the motorcycle cops — Masanori Matsuyama, Tomohisa Matsuo and Hiroshi Nonaka — were from the Sasebo city police. Takaaki Ueno, from the Nagasaki Prefecture police, has placed three times in the All-Japan Motorcycle Police Contests, finishing sixth in the most recent competition.

Masahito Nishino, a base security department official, assisted the patrol officers in offering one-to-one constructive criticism during training drills at the workshop.

“We learned that motorcycle patrolmen working near [Naval Air Facility] Atsugi and Yokosuka [Naval Base] went to those bases and conducted similar programs,” Whalen said between engine revs. “So, we decided to ask law enforcement in this area to come out, allowing us to see what they’re about, plus giving them a chance to see what we’re about. We want to see what safety procedures they use and what laws are in place.

“In addition, we want them to realize that here we aren’t just giving motorcycle licenses away to anybody who asks for one,” Whalen added.

Retired Petty Officer 1st Class Terry Renick, another motorcycle safety instructor on post, started assisting in the training five years ago, while still a sailor in Sasebo.

“These guys (patrolmen) know their stuff. They’re the best of the best at what they do,” said Renick.