Track days and crashing

Guys, ever been at a track day and seen someone crash in a slower group and wonder "how the .... did that happen"

More over, when u see it u think "holly ...." wasn't even going fast.

The reality is the pani, RSV4' and even the BMW gives the average rider some tools to go quicker and be safer than other bikes, mind u, the ZX10 and 0/12 R1 have TC.

Can't go past getting some training or tuition on how to ride fast and safe..

Lots on this forum about the bike and handling, would be good to start putting up some details on track day providers who offer tuition and which race schools are worth attending...

Bowdy

Yes, it would be nice to hear about everyone's experience. I'm going to a CSS weekend next month in Las Vegas. I've heard good things about them, but will let you know how it goes. It's been years since I was at the track so decided to take level 1 and 2 again. I'm going to another weekend here in WA by them next July too.

Good idea Bowdy. In my experience crashes are caused by either skill error, by putting too many bikes on the track or by mixing skills too much within a group. I'd like to see a thread calling out track day operators that understand this and have systems in place to increase skill, limit numbers in groups and try to keep skill levels in groups similar. Would help everyone I think.

Ordered an 1199R this morning and as soon as I'm somewhat comfortable on the bike, I'll be doing this at Eastern Creek.

I don't want to be a hero, I want to improve my riding technique and heard nothing but good things about CSS.

My friend and I are looking forward to it.

MEGA - Motorcycling Events Group Australia

Great idea. I hope this thread takes off. I would be interested in knowing some of the better places to go in my area.

Evo said:

I don't want to be a hero....

Click to expand...

uhh, I DO! Who wouldn't??

im going to miller. Yamaha championship riding school. for my research its the best out there with the most actual track time. i compared it to keith codes school and a few others. i could go to the track thats 2.5 hours away as these schools travel but then i would have to use my pani. i would rather make a trip out to utah and use the r6 to "learn on" just in case i crash .

Bottom line is that motorcycle track days in the US simply do not offer enough instruction and don't take rider safety seriously enough. Some track day orgs do a classroom session or two to newcomers but other than that there is little in the way of mandatory training when people get on the race track.

Contrast that with most car track day orgs where you are required to go to a classroom session after each session on track and each student gets an instructor. Obviously you can't have an instructor on the bike with you but considering that a motorcycle is much more difficult to operate and is much more dangerous, you'd think motorcycle track day orgs would have at least the same level of instruction.

Now I don't know why trackday orgs don't provide/mandate more and better instruction for riders. Maybe it's hard to find instructors, or maybe many riders would ..... about having to sit in class. Whatever the reason, it would behoove trackday orgs to do things to reduce the frequency of trackday crashes. Every person that brings their nice sportbike out to beginner group and wads their bike up is one less person that can be a return customer. Then when that guy tells his friends that he wrecked his bike at a trackday it makes them less likely to try it themselves.

I still encourage my friends to do track days if they're interested but I always recommend that they do something like Cali SBK School first to get some fundamentals down before getting on the racetrack.

What are some examples of good racing schools in the US other than Cali?

a few mentioned above but the tops from my research are Yamaha championship riding school (you ride r6) and keith code (you ride s1000rr). Yamaha you get much more track time then codes school. you can google both of them.
school info

Motorcycle Riding School | Yamaha Champions Riding School

below is the article that sold me on the school

Soup :: Yamaha Champions School: Breaking Trail On Trail-Braking :: 06-15-2011

here is another review

Yamaha Champions Riding School - Motorcycle USA

Thanks, I didn't see your post above GIrish. You think the R6 is closer to the Pani then the Beemer?

No, the S1000RR is going to be a lot closer to the experience of the Panigale on track given the similarity in straight line speed. However, I wouldn't use that as a reason to go to CSS over the Yamaha school. If you learn the proper skills on a 600 you should be able to apply them just fine when you get back on your Pani.

if your just starting out does it really matter? the bmw is going to be closer to the pani, however your not going to be able to use either to the max anyway so that part doesnt matter to me.
Also yamaha gives you much more actual track time and the groups are very small per instructor. there are videos on the links.
Im going to yamaha not for what bike i will ride but for the instructors at the course.

It sounds like you both agree, it is the school, not the bike that I am interested in.

I did the Keith Code CSS two day superbike camp at Barber this past June, some of the best money ever spent on learning to ride.

School is organized in four levels, and they take you step by step all the way thru each class (the superbike camp covers 2 levels per weekend, I did level 1 and 2).

Their's a reason Code school has been around for 30 years. They know what they're doing, beautifully organized, lots of riding and lots of interaction with instructor!

I just want to get on here and first say Thank You(!) to those of you interested in bettering yourselves and representing the Yamaha Champions School. I got off the phone with mark419ny and I know there are always questions.

For anyone interested in more information about the school or if you have questions just shoot me a message and I will help out all that I can.

I don't want to be spam all over here, but will certainly offer any help that I can for you guys to make the best decision for you. There are a lot of options out there but you all seem to be aware of the first step which is deciding to make the most significant component of the bike (the rider) better.

Also, think about coming by our presentations at the International Motorcycle Shows in NYC and Chicago and you will get to see first hand how we do things in the school, what we talk about and see if it is something that works for you.

"SHORTY"
Daniel S. Short
Yamaha Champions Riding School
[email protected]
435.277.8788

For the VA, MD, NC riders on here. If you are seriously interested in learning how to ride the 1199 well on a track I can suggest www.teampromotion.com
I've been riding this track for two seasons. Met a few members of this forum too. (they may chime in)

This advanced rider training is taught by some CCS and AMA riders that really take you through all the steps to becoming a truly safe and skilled rider. There are several tracks they train at. The track I ride is NCCAR/NCBIKE. It's a wide track and has some of the best learning turns I've riden. They teach you entry and exit, as most riding schools do and assign a coach to watch and provide you with advice.

If you are a member of the US armed forces they provide you with a discounted price and all the gear free the first time. (for this you have zero reason to puss out)

At any rate, if you own a Pani you owe it not only to yourself but to the bike to see what this bike is designed for. Go to the track!

Great thread! I was doing some research a couple weeks ago and was wanting to get some feed back on anyone's experience at the schools myself. For me I think I've narrowed it down to the Yamaha school or Kieth Code's. Both appear well put together on their websites. I've been to the Miller in Utah and watched WSBK and its a sweet track! But both of them also have classes at Laguna Seca which I think is my dream track.

Another vote for the Keith Code's School. Absolutely awesome!!!

I've done trackdaya with STT, NESBA, FTD, and Team Pro Motion.

Nesba has been my favorite organization. Anytime I've ridden with them I'm hooked up with a CR to show me the track lines. Nesba's CR's are often racers, so there input has helped a ton.

STT, and FTD are also great, great orgs.

My last Team Pro Motion day we had 70 plus people on the grid at Summit Point. The track was like a parking lot. At noon I packed up and left. This was years ago, so hopefully things have changed for the better.

Evo said:

Ordered an 1199R this morning and as soon as I'm somewhat comfortable on the bike, I'll be doing this at Eastern Creek.

I don't want to be a hero, I want to improve my riding technique and heard nothing but good things about CSS.

My friend and I are looking forward to it.

MEGA - Motorcycling Events Group Australia

Click to expand...

congrats on the R

i've done plenty of school days at EC and PI and the staff is excellent, you'll have a great day