The GNR Motorcycle Carousel
The Motorcycle Carousel of the Portuguese National Republican Guard (GNR) is formed by volunteer riders from the 2nd Moto Squadron of the State Security and Honours Unit (USHE). Based in Lisbon, the squadron is part of the GNR structure responsible for ceremonial duties and motorised escorts for senior national and international dignitaries.
The origins of the Motorcycle Carousel go back to the 1920s, when display exercises were carried out on Norton motorcycles. In 1956, Sunbeam motorcycles arrived in Portugal, having been presented to the Portuguese Republic during the visit of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II. From that point onwards, the GNR Motorcycle Carousel developed into one of the most distinctive motorcycle display teams in Europe.
Over the years, the team has become known for its combination of precision riding, discipline and spectacle. Its displays stand alongside other famous military and police motorcycle teams, including Britain’s Royal Signals Motorcycle Display Team and France’s Carrousel Motocycliste de la Garde Républicaine.
The 2nd Moto Squadron
The 2nd Moto Squadron is today based at Calçada do Galvão, Ajuda, Lisbon and forms part of the GNR’s ceremonial and honours structure. One of its key duties is to provide motorcycle escorts for state occasions, helping to deliver the precision and formality associated with official honours.
Historically, the squadron used AJS motorcycles before moving on to Norton and later Sunbeam machines. Early demonstrations were relatively simple, often staged at military events, but by the 1950s the Motorcycle Carousel had taken shape in a form much closer to the one recognised today.
The Sunbeam Tradition
For Sunbeam enthusiasts, the great distinction of the GNR Motorcycle Carousel is its long-standing use of the Sunbeam S7. These machines became central to the team’s identity and remain the most iconic motorcycles associated with the display.
Even as more modern motorcycles have been introduced, the Sunbeams remain the historic heart of the Carousel. Their presence links today’s performances with a tradition that stretches back nearly seventy years, and they continue to represent the elegance, balance and character that make the GNR display so memorable.
The Display
The Motorcycle Carousel is made up of several sections, built around two riding teams of eight riders each. The performance combines slow-speed balance, close-formation riding and larger geometric figures, all requiring exact timing and rigorous training.
The opening section includes signature set-pieces such as the Pyramid and the Pin with Ladder. Later formations involve crossings, circles and changing patterns performed at speed, creating what can only be described as a ballet of motorcycles. Among the most striking moments is the riding of a single Sunbeam with multiple riders, a display of collective balance and control that has become one of the team’s best-known features.
The performance also includes a more dramatic section with ramps, jumps and fire obstacles, contrasting sharply with the precise formation work that defines the rest of the show.
GNR Motorcycle Carousel is more than a display team. It is a rare and living example of Sunbeams used in ceremonial and performance service, preserving both the machines and the skills needed to present them in public. That makes it an important and fascinating part of Sunbeam history.