Bandidos bikies run classified ad just to say thanks to the public

Australia’s feared Bandidos bikies have run an ad in a Ballarat newspaper thanking the local community for their hospitality after a major gang run.

Bikie runs have clearly moved on from the days of bad manners, burn-outs and broken bones.

The Bandidos Motorcycle Club, which last weekend made a run through Ballarat, has been moved to go public with its gratitude to the public for their acceptance.

A classified advertisement published in the Ballarat Courier seemed to usher in a new era of community relations for the feared OMCG.

A classified ad from the Bandidos Motorcyle Club.

It read: “The Bandidos Motorcycle Club of Australia would like to thank the people of Victoria and in particular those in from Ballarat for their warm hospitality during our recent stay.

“We would like to apologise for any inconvenience our motorcade may have caused. We look forward to our next visit.”

The Bandidos have a strong presence in Ballarat, Geelong and interstate.

Sources say their nationwide numbers remain sold, despite many Melbourne metropolitan members and those in the Echuca area patching over to the Mongols in recent years.

Police intercept members of the Nomads motorcycle gang as they leave their Laverton North clubhouse. Picture: Andrew Henshaw

The Ballarat run went off without incident, as did that of the Nomads gang, who descended on Geelong.

The Comancheros and Finks outfits had their runs the previous weekend with no drama reported.

Victoria Police Echo taskforce officers meet with club leaders before runs to make the boundaries clear before they hit the road.