6 tips to get into road racing
Racing is fun, but it also requires preparation. Here is what you need to think about before hitting the trackSo you’ve got a bike, you’ve done a track day, and now you want to get into racing. Well, racing a motorcycle is a whole new world, and certainly not for the faint-hearted. Rest assured though; it is a heap of fun, and once you start, you simply can’t stop.
I have raced at both a national and an international level, and I’ve compiled my top tips to get you on the start line at your nearest club race meet.
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1. Make sure your bike is ready to race
I mean this in literally every sense. There’s a saying that goes around the paddock, which is ‘Perfect Preparation Prevents Piss-Poor Performance’, which covers the meaning well. Make sure your bike is ready to race and ensure that all required elements have been lock wired (radiator cap, sump plug, brake callipers, water pump, oil filler and oil filter to name a few).
For more information on what you need to do to your bike, the Motorcycle Racing Club of WA have an in-depth page of what needs to be done to your machine to pass scrutineering which can be found here.
2. Check you have the correct gear to pass scrutineering.
Make sure your gear is in good enough condition to pass scrutineering. This entails owning a one- or two-piece leather suit (one-piece leather suit is of higher safety preference), gloves and boots that are intact, a back brace (these are mandatory for road racing), and a helmet that is of level A Standard and present no marks, scratches or abrasions. You can check pages 241 to 244 of the Motorcycling Australian Manual of Motorcycle Sport (MoMS) for further information.
3. Take part in track and coaching days on the circuit you are racing
Never underestimate the power of track knowledge before entering your first race meeting to give you an extra boost of confidence. Most local clubs will offer a Friday practice day prior to the weekend race meet, and it is always a good idea to take this opportunity with both hands. For clubs such as the Motorcycle Sportsmen of QLD, they even offer a Thursday coaching day and a Friday track day prior to their race meetings to ensure everyone gets a chance of circulating the track prior to racing.
4. You need a Motorcycling Australia race licence
It is mandatory to hold your Motorcycling Australia (MA) race licence if you wish to race at any level. It costs roughly $340 and you must also become a financial member of an MA-affiliated club.
5. Do your research before joining a local club
In order to obtain a Motorcycling Australia race licence, you need to be a financial member of a motorcycle club. There are so many clubs across the whole of Australia, so make sure you look around and check out your options (and bike eligibility to see what classes you can enter). Clubs such as Motorcycle Sportsmen of QLD even do a ‘first race for free’ deal, so it’s important to do some research to see what’s on offer around your area. Check out the website of your State’s controlling body (e.g. Motorcycling Victoria) to find a list of clubs.
6. Go ahead and enter
It is very important to remember that to race, you must ensure you follow all of the procedures that are in place by your club to make sure nothing hinders your first race day experience. Make sure you are a financial member of an MA-affiliated club, hold the correct race licence issued to you by MA and, most importantly, make sure you have entered for your race before the closing date.
This article was originally published on May 10, 2022.
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