Beginner’s Guide to Motorcycle Track Days

Track days are a lot of fun once you hit the circuit and relax into it. But for novices it can be an intimidating and nerve-wracking experience, especially on your first time out. We’ve put together a beginner’s guide to race track days to help you understand what to expect on the day.

 

Man riding motorcycle round track corner

What Happens At A Track Day?

Registration is usually the first thing to happen around 7.30 to 8.30 a.m. Your motorbike licence will be checked over and you’ll need to complete an identity form including basic information. Once finished, you’ll get a sticker for your bike and a wristband to wear for the day.

Noise testing happens next, the limit for which you should already be aware of before arriving. The normal limit is either 102 or 105db, although it can sometimes be lower depending on the track. Most bikes should easily be under these limits, but it’s worth checking before you arrive.

Race track safety briefing

Then it’s onto the safety briefing, which will tell you about the circuit and flag rules and everything else you need to be aware of to make sure everyone on the track is on the same page. It is important to pay attention and to ask any questions of the track staff if you’re unsure. Asking someone who is sitting next to you is always a good tactic as well as they may be more experienced, and it is a good way to break the ice and make a friend.

More experienced riders should also pay attention during this part as rules and signals can change track-to-track and communication with track staff and other riders is key to staying safe.

You’ll then likely move onto doing some sighting laps that will give you a feel for the track at a reduced speed behind a pace bike. This will also give you a chance to get comfortable with the track conditions, key marshal posts, and your ability versus the other riders in the pack.

novice riding motorcycle track

The racing itself is usually broken up into 20-minute sessions with a break at midday. You should have more than enough time to enjoy the experience, so take your time before going full out. Racing track staff may, and often do, offer advice on riding techniques and bike prep to novice riders. This can be invaluable as little changes can make a huge difference to your lap times.

 

Prepping Your Bike For The Track

Some alterations may have to be made to a standard street bike before it is suitable for use on the track, and the guidelines and any specific requirements will be made available by the track provider before race day. Take note of these and give your bike a thorough check well before the day to give yourself time to make any changes and adjustments necessary and to carry out any maintenance tasks to ensure your bike runs well. The last thing you want is for your bike to be excluded on the day because you haven't done your research and prep.

This includes things like taping over the lenses on the taillights, headlights and signal lights. This will ensure that if a lens breaks, it remains intact so that no debris falls onto the track and endangers other riders. A professional masking tape such as Blue Painter's Tape or Green Frogtape is the best option for this as it works well on glass and leaves no marks on the lenses after it’s taken off. Don't use duct tape, or gaffer tape as it is also known. You can buy dedicated covers if you’re going to do multiple meets and don’t want to bother with tape. It’s also a good idea to tape over the speedometer at the race meet as it can be a distraction and ultimately won’t need to be used at the track.

TrakTape Motorcycle Light Covers

Tape the mirrors up too, or better still remove them and on faired bikes fit some mirror blanks. Also remove other unnecessary accessories like phone mounts, top boxes and panniers – which you can do in the paddock if needed. 

As long as you have a decent set of modern tyres with plenty of tread, this will be enough for your first track day. Countless novices turn up with the most expensive track tyres to their first time. It won’t make a huge amount of difference. Getting used to track-riding technique, skill, and awareness is much more important at this stage. The more you visit the track the more you’ll get a feel of the wear of the tyres, and ultimately, this will give you a better idea of how to handle the bike on the road.

Motorcycle Parts Warehouse Shop Tyres

Do check how much tread you have though, before and after – especially if riding a distance to the circuit – and how much could be left for your journey home. There should be a guide on the track’s website or in the prep information they send out. But as long as your tyres are relatively new, it’s extremely rare (unless you drift around every corner) that you’ll wear out tyres to the point of them being illegal to use on the road on your first day on the circuit. Still, it’s a good habit to get into.

A general technical check of your bike will be carried out on the day to ensure it is track-worthy, covering things like leaks around fork seals or from brake and coolant hoses and around the engine. They will also check for any missing screws, signs of corrosion and that your brakes and suspension are in good order. Spend a day or so with your bike in the garage before the day to ensure all these parts are checked, tightened, oiled, and lubed as they should be and you’ll have no issue passing technical.

 

Earn Rewards!

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We want to hear from you! The Motorcycle Parts Warehouse community is growing. Get involved. 

Send us photos, videos, and blog posts documenting your first track day to help out other riders and you could earn rewards. There are vouchers, discount codes, and giveaways on offer - so get creative. Message content to us on Facebook or Instagram, or email it in below!

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