Novice Motorcycle Track Days

There, we’ve said it. And whilst pretty much every motorcycle track day has a novice or slow group, there are also a number of dedicated road bike only or novice motorcycle track days that can be a better place to start.

However, it doesn’t matter whether you’ve booked a slow group on a ‘normal’ bike track day or a dedicated novice motorcycle track day, either way you will absolutely love it.

It’s likely you will be bricking yourself, right up until you get on track, however before you’ve even finished the sighting laps, those nerves will be fading away and you will be grinning in your helmet like a Cheshire cat.

Then, once you’re familiar with the circuit, you can start to relax and focus on improving your lines, practicing the same corners over and over again without worrying about the various hazards you face when riding on the road.

Read our article about the Best UK Circuits for your First Motorbike Track Day (as voted by the members of Trackday Addicts Facebook Group).

What’s stopping you doing a bike track day?

We often meet riders who have years of experience riding motorbikes on the road, but have never taken their bike on track; either because they never got around to it, it’s too scary to contemplate, they’re not interested in racing or they cannot afford to crash their road bike without insurance. So let’s address each of these in turn:

1. It’s easy and affordable to book on a motorcycle track day in the UK - Novice days tend to run between March and September (check out our UK Track Days Calendar for all organisers)
2. Slow groups and novice only days mean everyone is in the same boat - A track day can seem a little scary at first, but after one session you’ll be smiling from ear to ear
3. A track day is not about racing, it’s about developing your riding skills and having fun so it doesn’t matter how fast you go, nobody is keeping time on a novice day
4. The odds of something bad happening are low, but you can buy track day insurance for your bike (damage) and yourself (injury) with Trackday Addicts Insurance (damage cover is cheaper than hiring a bike and means you get to ride your own motorbike with peace of mind and a sensible excess)

Are motorbike track days any good?

There are some fairly obvious benefits to motorcycle track days:

• For starters, everyone is riding motorcycles and travelling in the same direction (no cagers pulling out on you)
• Plenty of visibility and nothing hiding around a blind corner (a queue of traffic for example)
• Quality tarmac without potholes or drain covers and gravel traps actually designed to improve safety (not scattered in the road mid-corner)
• Markers / cones to show you where to brake and aim for the apex of each corner
• Repetition and predictability (you get to practice the same corners multiple times throughout the day and build on your last lap experience)
• You can push yourself and your bike closer to the limit in a controlled environment to improve your skills and confidence without the usual road risks (or police)
• Availability of support and advice from experienced coaches and instructors (you can often pay for some dedicated personal tuition as well)

Preparing for a novice motorcycle track day UK

Whilst you can ride your road-bike to a UK motorcycle track day, if you have a van or trailer it’s a good idea to use that in case something happens to your bike (not just accidents, but breakdowns too), plus you will be absolutely knackered at the end of the day.

There are some other things to prepare in advance.

1. Make sure your motorbike is safe to ride on track - You won’t be popular if you drop oil on the track and you don’t want a rusty chain snapping
2. Check the track day noise limits for that circuit / event - If you have a noisy bike then make sure your baffles are in your exhaust, get a 'db killer' (silencer) or book on an unlimited noise day - The obligatory noise test is a quick way to finish your day before it starts!
3. Decent tyres with plenty of life in them (road tyres will do fine) - Tyre support will often be available at the circuit to buy new tyres and get them fitted or help you set the correct tyre pressures
4. A tyre pump and pressure gauge is helpful to adjust your pressures on the day (if not you can often borrow one)
5. A one-piece leather suit or two-piece leathers that have a 360 degree zip (it must zip all the way around with no big gaps around your belly)
6. A full length back protector (either fitted in your jacket or worn separately)
7. Full length motorcycle boots and leather gloves that cover your ankles and wrists
8. An ACU (Auto-Cycle Union) approved full-face motorsport or road helmet with a visor - Make sure it has the gold sticker visible (no motocross style helmets)
9. A brake lever guard fitted (don’t forget the TDA group discount with R&G)
10. Remove your mirrors or tape over them / fold them in to avoid looking at what's behind you instead of focusing on that approaching corner - Some people also like to tape over the speedo to avoid distractions...
11. Your full unrestricted ‘Cat A’ motorcycle licence or an ACU race licence - If you have an A2 licence check with the organiser that it will be accepted before booking
12. Sounds obvious, but don't forget your bike keys (many have done it)!
13. And finally, take a camping chair, snacks and a flask of tea to chill between sessions.

Check out our Track Day Insurance (with optional Personal Injury Cover) to help you relax with peace of mind knowing you and your bike are covered.

Signing on for your motorcycle track day

Look out for an email with links to watch any mandatory briefing videos and complete any online forms / waivers in advance. Get there nice and early to give yourself plenty of time (rushing about will create pressure and stress you don’t need) and sign-on at the main desk when you arrive with your driving licence.

Take your bike for noise testing, where you will be given a sticker to prove it’s passed (there may also be a quick visual inspection of your bike to ensure it’s not an obvious danger to yourself or others). Some tracks operate drive-by noise testing on track instead.

You will also need to attend a quick briefing before the first session (even if you have completed the pre-event briefing videos).

Learn the circuit and warm up your tyres

How groups or sessions are organised can vary, e.g. each hour could be split into three or four groups. We’d probably avoid an open pitlane event (go out when you want) for your first bike track day. However, it’s important to know the schedule and be ready for your first session, where you’ll be led out on sighting laps to familiarise yourself with the circuit layout.

Remember to take it easy on your first few sessions, as you get to know the circuit. At first it will feel a little intimidating and will take a while to relax, after which you can work on your corner approach speeds and braking points, body positioning and steering the bike, where to turn in for the apex and where to aim for the exit of each corner as you get back on the accelerator.

At the start of each session it’s important to warm up your tyres for a few laps (don’t go full beans too soon), plus it might take a few laps to relax and get into a flow. You have plenty of time to gradually build up your pace as your confidence grows throughout the day (half a dozen sessions of 20 minutes means a lot of attempts at each corner so don’t rush yourself).

Ask for help and advice

Finally, don’t worry about asking others for help or advice, particularly the organisers and various coaching staff, as well as other experienced riders. It’s usually a great atmosphere and a great chance to make new acquaintances.

You should also consider booking on a training school, like California Superbike School UK - you don’t need a superbike and it’s not really about track day riding, it’s about bike handling skills that will help you improve your riding on road and track days.

IMPORTANT: If you rode to the event on your road bike - remember to pump your tyres back up to the correct pressures before you ride home!