et’s face it, motorcycles are fast,
and many of us choose to ride
them because of the speed and
the thrill it gives us. With no
other outlet available to get our
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sometimes ramp it up on the street and
ride a little too fast, or aggressively, for
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not a racetrack.
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bought a shiny 1,000 cc sport bike, or a
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head out together for an adventurous
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intentions and try to keep the speed
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the excitement of riding kicks in, and
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a little more quickly.
I’m not saying that everyone does it,
but come on, many of us do, and quite
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ous the street can be until something
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friends on the street and beginning road
racing myself for me to actually realize
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licence almost 20 years ago, I rode like a
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time and pushed the limits. I loved the
thrill, the danger and the excitement.
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feeling of invincibility, as though noth-
ing bad could ever possibly happen to
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I’d never heard of track days, riding
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ence the thrill of speed on my motor-
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In 2001, my good friend Scott invited
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motorcycle racing and the concept of
track days. Not long after that I got on
the track. I became hooked, got my race
licence and signed up for track days
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dangerous riding on the street actually
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proper riding gear, everyone rode in
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on-site in case of a mishap.
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oncoming vehicle or careening off a cliff.
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much safer and more controlled place to
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legally, the need to ride quickly on the
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ing more time riding on the track and
racing than riding on the street. When
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more relaxed, and I rode more sensibly.
I didn’t feel the need to go fast on the
street because I had a safer outlet. If you
have a tendency to ride aggressively or
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road, the potential for something bad to
happen increases. You should take it to
the track instead.
Surprisingly, a lot of riders I speak
to have never heard about track days
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on speed and technique, and ramp up
the pace in a controlled environment.
Grab your computer and search for
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track days, racing and rider training
in your area. Most areas have options.
Living in British Columbia, I’m more
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airport, the track layout changes often,
and there are groups for varying skill
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advanced. You can get several riding
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membership gives you access to the
16-turn circuit. I also recommend the
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coach, and there are even go-kart tracks
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or convert your dirt bike into super-
moto.
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probably make you less likely to push
your limits on the street.
LIFE IN THE FAS T LANE
by Misti Hurst
THE STREET
IS NOT A
RACETRACK
ILLUSTRATION:DEANFOSTER12 MOTORCYCLE MOJO MAY 2019L