Suzuki Rider Safety training day at RedStar Raceway
It's no secret that motorcyclists are very vulnerable road users so in a bid to educate and train new and old riders alike, Suzuki offers a road safety training course at RedStar Raceway. We attended to see what it was all about.
Keeping it safe on two's
As an individual who test drives both cars and bikes, I have the privilege of seeing bike safety from both sides. There are days that I sit in traffic in an air-conditioned car and wonder to myself how some motorcyclists are still amongst the living with the way that they ride and then other times cursing inside my helmet as another inconsiderate motorist cuts me off while I am out testing a bike.
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I have attended one too many funerals of fellow bikers who were tragically taken way too early in accidents that could have been avoided if simple safety lessons had been followed and this is the mission that Suzuki South Africa and Red Star Raceway are on. Suzuki sponsors and Red Star Raceway hosts, a quarterly rider safety road school wherein riders come together, spend some time in the classroom and then get to put what they have learned into practice out on track in a safe and controlled environment and can get feedback from the instructors on how to improve their riding.
This is NOT a track school, but rather a time and a place to identify old habits, correct riding styles, perfect cornering and raise rider situational awareness.
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Why should you attend?
Let's just say that no one is above learning something new or having ideas refreshed. Even seasoned professionals in MotoGP and World Superbike spend countless hours training and watching video footage to see where they are making mistakes and can get better. A course of this nature is not going to teach you how to set lap times but is geared toward teaching new riders about their bikes, the road and other road users and to refresh ideas that experienced riders may have forgotten. I have been riding for over 20 years and still walked away from the classroom session with a few new techniques and ideas to try.
Details!
As we mentioned earlier these events are hosted quarterly, so about 4 a year. Once Suzuki makes the date announcement, you need to register on the Red Star Raceway website, you can pay online or on the day when you arrive. The cost of the day course is a mere R300 and for this, you get a 1-hour classroom session, multiple track sessions, and a free lunch! Now it should be noted that these day events are rather popular and even though there is no attendance cap, the organisers do like to keep it to about 120 riders on the day as any more than that and the track can become crowded and it kills the fun factor, so it's important to book your spot.
The day begins with a classroom session with an introduction to safety and then moves on to motorcycle dynamics and body position and then on to road hazards and bike positioning as well as a brief rundown on the gear you should be riding with. After a short break, everyone gears up and heads for their bikes where riders are split up into groups by experience and begin heading out onto the track with an instructor in the lead.
The groups operate as follows:
A - Professional riders (aka Fastboys)
B - Experienced riders
C - Intermediate riders
D - Beginner riders
The instructors keep the pace for each group and keep a watchful eye on each rider, so that they can give feedback and coach on what was passed on during the classroom session. It is a fun and relaxed environment where you definitely learn something new and train yourself out of bad habits learned on the road. The best part of all, is it doesn't matter what you ride, the sessions are open to everything from 250cc delivery bikes to adventure bikes, superbikes, and even cruisers, you join the group that you are most comfortable in!
Verdict
I have yet to meet a person who has walked away from any form of training and said that it wasn't worth it. Even if you believe that you are the next Brad Binder or Marc Marquez this type of training can be beneficial to you even if the only thing you took away from it was the best foot positioning while cornering. The training day will not only teach you about your bike's dynamics, but also about yourself as a rider and you get an incredible amount of track time to practice what you've learnt.
