Daily Slideshow: Sportbike Racing: No Experience Necessary?

Welcome!

Congratulations on making the decision to investigate the exciting world of sport bike racing! Road racing is a great place to hone your riding skills and push yourself to the limit of your abilities. Getting started is not difficult and in this article, we will cover some basic steps that will help you have a lot of fun and, more importantly, a safe experience. 

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Go see an event!

Your journey into road racing should start on the internet. The very first thing you should do is a search for local sanctioning bodies in your area/region. After all, this is where you'll end up in the beginning. If there are no sanctioning bodies in your area, another good search would be for your local tracks and venues. If you are fortunate enough to have a sanctioning body nearby, by all means, go see a race! Local races are a great place to go and see other racers set-ups, give you ideas of all the items you'll need to have, comfort items you might need and ask racers for advice on getting going.

If there are no local races in your area, check the local track for a motorcycle track day. Talk to some of the riders, they might know of an organization that isn't quite big enough for a website or point you in a better direction in your quest. Local tracks are also usually on the hunt for corner workers regularly. Being a corner worker is another great way to get additional behind the scenes access at racing events. Becoming a corner worker usually requires a short class on the rules, flag definitions and when to use them and how to use the track radio system. Corner worker classes usually take thirty minutes to an hour and is a small price to pay for the access you'll get in the end. 

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Schools & basic education

Alright, now you've seen an event or two, maybe even worked a race. Now its time to hop in the saddle and go get it for yourself. Right? Wrong! We all have jobs right? Did you just wake up and know how to do your profession or trade? No, you didn't. Odds are you went to school or got on the job training in your field. Road racing is no different. Before you go lay a knee slider down you need a small amount of education. 

Fortunately, there are a ton of schools available to us ranging in price and curriculum. Racing at a track is not like riding on the road. A school is also a good stepping stone to making the decision about going road racing. Many schools have bike and safety gear rental available for an additional fee. If you don't have a bike yet or the appropriate gear, a school is an inexpensive way to give road racing a crack. Who knows, you might not enjoy it. The school also might be that hook that makes your finances cringe in fear. 

Schools are a great opportunity to get an idea of your skill level, discover your strengths and weaknesses and learn some more advanced techniques that will help keep you from just being in the way. A school will also introduce you to what preparation is necessary to your bike for racing and what type of safety gear you'll need. Get to class!

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You're going racing!

By now you've done the school, you think you've got what it takes to get out on track and you have made the commitment. Fabulous! The next step is all about figuring out what class best suits you. Do you already have the bike? Is that bike going to force you into an expert type class? This is where your local sanctioning body/organizer comes into play again. They all have rulebooks regarding each specific class, read them and know them. Racetracks will even have a rule book about what is required to just get out and turn some laps. Study.

Fortunately, a lot of local organizations are starting to add a "street/track" class which is all about getting budding racers, like you, on track and educated. Their future as an organization depends on people like you coming into the sport. They want to help. Some include a classroom session at every event, more practice sessions and a points race at the end of the day. They are great affordable options to get into the sport. 

There are also full-blown race classes which will require you to have a fully prepped and rule legal race machine. These classes will also require a racing license and sometimes an up to date health physical. Make no mistake, this is the real deal. You'll be running with anyone from the eccentric rich or the young kids who want to make racing a career. All of them will be out to win.  

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The Bike

There it is... your loyal steed... your racing machine. Beautiful isn't it? Is it ready to go? If you had the option of a street/track class now is time to make sure your bike meets the rules of the class. Make sure all the glycol based coolant is out of it and replaced with water. Is any glass that might shatter removed or taped off? Is the chain in good shape and tensioned? Tires in good shape? Oil topped off? Brake lights and headlights taped off? Good, load the bike up and get out to the track.

Now if you don't have a road bike already, here is the opportunity to get out and shop for a real racing machine. Building a race bike from scratch using a bike off the showroom floor is a costly venture. Remember how you went to events in the beginning? Now is the time to search out a used race machine off of another racer. Nine times out of ten there is a racer who is looking to step up out of a starter class. In order to do that, they have to sell their current ride to fund the new one. The best part about this route is that you will source a decent machine that abides by the rules of the class and is already prepped. A whole article could be written on buying a used race bike, many have. Do little research, all used race bikes will need something. Typically that something is far less than starting a build.  

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Safety Gear

You've got the bike, now you need the gear. This is one area not skimp on prices. If gear is cheap, it's for a reason. Your helmet should be of high quality from a reputable manufacturer and at the very least be a full face and have DOT certification. A better helmet will have a SNELL foundation rating or even a FIM certification. How much is your head worth to you? More than an eight hundred dollar helmet for sure.

Next is your leathers. Check your rule book on specifics but generally speaking your leathers are to be one piece, (two pieces are allowed in some sanctioning bodies with a zipper that is 90% of the circumference of your waist) made from cowhide or kangaroo. The leathers should have integrated pockets for CE armor at the elbows, shins, knees, shoulders, and back. Many suits currently come with CE rated armor everywhere except for back protectors and chest protectors. Back and chest protectors are sometimes optional depending on the sanctioning body. You will also need a couple of sets of knee sliders/pucks, they don't last long. Check your rule book! 

Finally boots and gloves. Quality gloves should have reinforced palm/knuckle protection and fit tightly. However, not so tight that they cut off circulation or are uncomfortable to wear. But not so loose that a bad crash could blow them off either. Same is to be said for your boots. They should be flexible in the right directions and rigid in the wrong directions. Boots should come up over the calf and have a large enough top opening to blouse your leathers into. Boots should be made out of either cowhide or kangaroo leather and have toe and heel sliders/pucks.

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Extra Equipment

Think about how long you'll be at the track. You are not going to be racing the whole time. Now is the time to think about when you're at the track but not on it. Carry a cooler filled with ice, water, sports drinks and high caloric snacks. An EZ up or similar instant shelter is great for keeping you, your bike and gear cool on the hot asphalt. Have some tools with you as well. Tire pressure gauges and simple hand tools could mean the difference from a short day at the track or a long one. Spare parts if necessary, foot pegs, shift levers, brake levers and clutch levers are all good ideas. It really sucks having your day cut short by a minor get off and not having a clutch lever.

It doesn't matter if you are doing a street/track class or full race class. Take yourself, your gear, equipment, and bike in a hauler. Whether it's a truck or trailer, it doesn't matter. Do not, under any circumstance, ride your motorcycle to the track. You will regret it. 

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Track Days and Races

Whether you're on track at a sanctioned event or track day, congratulations, you've done it. You've arrived. All events have a riders meeting. Be there. They will discuss any particular items of the venue. Cover anything that might have happened that riders need to be aware of. Rider meetings also give you the schedule of the day. When your classes will be on track. There is also a technical inspection where an official will look at your bike and gear to ensure that it all meets the rules and regulations. These are in place to make sure that everyone is safe and properly equipped. Everyone wants to ride the limit and have fun, safely. 

That's it. Your class is up. Get on your bike, get out on track and give it hell!

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Final Thoughts

Road racing motorcycles is a wonderful sport to compete in. It will teach you more about you and your capabilities on a motorcycle than anything else in the world. It can be expensive, there is no way around that. Speed is a question of money, how fast can you afford to go? It is also one of those "once in a lifetime opportunities" that give you fond memories of excitement and adventure. Who knows? You may just end up making a career out of it in one way or another. Regardless, you will not regret it. Be safe on your adventure and most importantly, have fun!

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