Novice and General Tips

At Hottrax, we are keen to encourage more novices to experience taking their bikes around some of the UK's best tracks. A Track Day can be one of the most exciting and rewarding experiences on a bike.

This page is fairly lengthy in content, however we hope that you take the time to read it as it is designed for the less experienced track day frequenters amongst you who might benefit from the experience of others. Some advantages of taking your bike on the track are:-

No Speed Limit - An obvious starting point for a novice going to a track for the first time is the luxury of no speed limits. This fact can maximize the enjoyment, but also can create danger if not respected. Your speed will naturally increase throughout the day as your confidence grows.

No Cars or Pedestrians - Due to the fact that you are on a race track. You have none of these hazards to factor into your riding. All tracks in the UK have strict rules relating to where spectators can stand and view the bikes on the track. The only car / van based vehicles that are allowed on the track are the circuits own recovery / safety vehicles and medical services.
However it s hould be noted that non of these vehicles will be on the circuit until either session has been stopped. In the event of a serious incident all bikes will either be stopped on the track or return to the pit lane BEFORE any 4 wheel vehicles are allowed on track. Flags will be displayed to warn you of any on track incidents. Full briefings are given at the start of each day relating to flags and their meanings.

Clear Circuit - All vehicles travel in a clockwise direction there are no drain covers, rubbish, potholes or anything of that type to avoid. Watch out for white lines in the wet. REMEMBER YOU HAVE ALL DAY!! What follows is a list designed to help Track Novices enjoy there day fully. After all you are paying for the day and we want you to get maximum enjoyment for your money. Please read carefully through the Do's, Don'ts and Comments and bear in mind what has been written. These tips have been complied for your benefit.

Novices at a Hottrax Event

Some of the Do's

1. Ensure your bike is in full mechanical working order prior to arriving at the track. Bikes which are not roadworthy will not be allowed on track. Make sure you have sufficient tread on your tyre's and your brake system is in good condition.

2. Ensure that you chain is adjusted correctly and lubricated. A loose chain on a track can be a serious danger to you as well as other track users. If you are unsure about your chain tension, consult either your handbook, local motorcycle dealer or an experienced bike rider.

3. Ensure that your tyre's are in good working order with the correct pressures and sufficient tread. When you are going around the track at speed, incorrect pressures could endanger you and other riders on the track. Again consult either your handbook or local motorcycle dealer for advice

4. Ensure you have full protective clothing & equipment. In the event that an accident occurs, all that will exist between your body and the track is the clothing or the Helmet you are wearing. One or two piece leathers must be worn. Double stitched seams are recommended. Most circuits will not allow persons to use their track unless they have either one piece leathers or full zip together two piece leathers. A good quality helmet should be worn. Black visors are allowed.

5. Be sure to fill your bike up prior to arrival at the track, or ensure that you have alternative refueling arrangements. Some circuits have fuel available on site at a slightly increased cost, but do not base your day on the fact that fuel will be available on site. Most circuits have garages nearby. If possible bring some jerry cans or equivalent to refuel your bike.

6. Ensure you hold and bring with you a current FULL Driving Licence or ACU licence that proves you are legally allowed to ride a Motorcycle of the cc you are intending to take around the track. This it not a rule laid down by Hottrax Ltd, it is one that each of the UK's circuits must follow under their own Health & Safety regulations. Check with us for each circuit as the regulations can differ.

Some of the Don't's

1. Firstly, don't worry that you have never done this kind of thing before. There will be no pressure on the day to get you up-to British Super-bike Champion level on the day. The day is designed for your enjoyment and at no time will you be criticized or mocked for the pace that you are going around the track. There is no thing worse than putting pressure on yourself when you are on the track. When you do that as a Novice you will not be concentrating on the circuit as you should be, you will be thinking about ' How slow I am going ' or equivalent. Nobody at Hottrax will push you beyond the level that you are comfortable with. The instructors might well encourage you to pick up the pace, or explain to you the physics involved in bike performance or handling.

2. If you enter a corner too fast and half way through it you feel that you will not make the turn, Don't grab for the front brake to slow you down. Whilst you have the bike leant over, grabbing the brake runs the risk of the front wheel locking up, resulting in a low side type crash. This is a very common type of crash. Once you have committed to the corner make sure your fingers are of the brake lever This reduces the chance of a panic grab of the brake. If you think you are going to fast DON'T PANIC and lean the bike over further 99 times out of 100 you will make the corner - REMEMBER - SLOW IN FAST OUT

3. Take your time to learn the track. Instructors will endeavor to show you the correct lines. However riding styles and type of bike can affect your cornering technique, therefore do not be tempted to follow another riders lines unless you are very confident there lines suit your style.
REMEMBER- SLOW IN FAST OUT. The instructors will show you the Entry, Apex and Exit point for each corner.

4. Do not worry about the speed and the fact that you might be go ing around a corner at 80mph and you see people going around the same corner at 130mph. Stick to your correct line through the corner and as you gain more confidence in you & your bikes capabilities you will naturally pick up speed.

5. If you come off your bike, DO NOT attempt to recover your bike if it is on the circuit. Every circuit has experienced Marshals located all around the track that will deal with this for you. In the event that you come off, make yourself known to the marshal if he has not already started sprinting toward you frantically waving flags in the air. NEVER walk across the track.

6. Do not try to 'act the clown' on the circuit. There is NO tolerance for showing off on the circuit. Deliberate wheelie's are not permitted, nor are 'Stoppies' or any other kind of tricks on the track. Any persons seen showboating will be 'Black Flagged' and potentially removed from riding for that day.

Some General Comments

1. Relax - Easier said than done before the first time you go out on a track, but the more you can relax and get into the mind set of what you have to do, the better. Instructors will be on hand all day to take you around the track and advise you on what to do and what not to do. There are no words that can really calm you down other than some advice that was given to a Novice once that helped him untold. Those words were " If you take the correct line, at a comfortable speed, and don't grab for the brake in a corner, there is nothing you can do that will push the bike to its limits and ultimately endanger you or the bike " That rider adhered to that
advice and had a good two day session without coming off.

2. Corners - When approaching a corner always try to look through it toward the exit point i.e. 'Where you want to end up'. As a rule your bike will go where you are looking so if you look at the tyre wall, you will probably end up in the tyre wall!!!!!!

3. Avoid false neutrals - Make positive gear changes

4. Commuter Foot Syndrome - Tuck your feet in when riding on track. Ideally you should have the ball of your foot on the pegs when cornering. Obviously you will have to move your feet to change gear and use the rear brake. If you watch professional racers you will see that they very often adjust there feet position just before committing to a turn.

5. Accidents do happen, be a ssured that all circuits have fully trained medical personnel on site. The majority of sites have full medical facilities onsite as well. There will always be an Ambulance with fully qualified Para-Medics available. Track Days can not operate without such personnel available