Roadracing World – April 2019

By Michael Gougis

T

here are lots of excuses for

not taking your motorcycle

to the racetrack and riding

fast. None of them hold up under

the briefest of scrutiny.

1. My Bike Isn’t Race-Prepped
   Or Track Ready...
   You don’t need a fully mod-
   ifi ed, purpose-built racebike to
   ride on the track. If you've got a
   bike that is mechanically sound,
   doesn't leak and has good tires,
   you've got a track-ready machine.
   Many track-day organizations
   don’t require any special prep,
   other than taping over lights or
   installing purpose-made adhesive
   light covers like those made by
   Track. If they require more than
   that, ask your track-riding friends
   for help, or ask the organization to
   recommend somebody to help you.
   At any given track day, there
   will be riders on motorcycles mak-
   ing 30 horsepower or less. And
   there's usually someone on an
   adventure bike or a tourer, and
   sometimes on a dirt bike or super-
   moto bike. You can have racetrack
   fun on any motorcycle.

2. It’s Too Dangerous,

And I Don’t Want to Crash...

No one wants to crash. But

look around at the end of a track

day at how many people didn’t

crash or get hurt. It’s no wonder:

A closed circuit, everyone going

the same direction, no errant car

drivers, ambulances staffed with

emergency medical crews stand-

ing by at the ready, fl aggers ready

to warn you about any problems

in every corner, machines checked

over at tech inspection—you get

any of that on your Sunday morn-

ing street ride? You’re less likely to

crash on the track, and if you do,

you’re less likely to hit something

and get hurt. And if you get hurt,

help can reach you almost imme-

diately, without having to fi nd you

in a ravine or in the woods!

3. I Don't Have Good Tires...
   If you mean your bike’s tires
   are worn out, cracked, or other-
   wise damaged, get some new ones.
   If by “don’t have good tires” you
   mean you don’t have racing tires
   on your bike, you don’t need them.
   I did a racing school in England
   on Dunlop Sportmax Roadsmart
   tires, with my knee buried into

the pavement in the Old Hairpin at

Donington, on the same brand and

model tires I got more than 10,

miles out of on my commuter back

home in the U.S.A. For the nov-

ice track day rider, a good set of

sport-touring tires will give all the

performance needed for a season

(Above) A rider having fun on a stock BMW G310R streetbike during a

California Superbike School (CSS) session on the Streets of Willow course

at Willow Springs International Raceway in Southern California. Note the

sidestand hanging down below and behind the engine. (Below) A student

and mechanic with a Ducati Multistrada checking tire pressure. Lack-

ing a sportbike didn’t keep this rider home. Photos by etechphoto.com.

10—Roadracing World, Trackday Directory 2019

Forget The

EXCUSES

GETTING ON THE TRACK: