Getting a Race Licence - 2019

All my concerns were for nothing; weather was absolutely fabulous and The Ducati passed sound check without a problem. See here for the build-up to getting my race licence.

The course was at Brands Hatch Indy and consisted of two 45 minutes classroom sessions; quite similar to a typical track-day, and some additional details around the organisational aspects of a race club and a race day (roles and responsibilities, etc). What surprised me was the changes you have to make to a race bike; i.e. you can't just rock up with a road-legal bike and race.

There was also a section on flags, with a few more differences and additions for a race compared to a track day. We then went through the starting procedure in quite some depth; we definitely got the impression, if things were going to go wrong in a big way, this is where and when it would happen.

We then had a quick multi choice test of 20 questions (each question had 3 possible answers); and, although there is no real pass/fail mark, I think if you got under 16; they would probably take a look at what you got wrong. Me being the big girly-swat, got 20 :0).

We then split into about six groups of six and headed for the track to do four sessions; sessions one and two were 15 minutes long and for the instructors to observe our riding. Session three was a race start of two rows at a time and session 4 was a full race start with 30-40 bikes.

My Ducati was one of only a handful of road legal bikes; all the others were proper track day or race bikes, mostly 600s and 1000 fours. I expected everyone to clear off ahead of me. I was then given the starting grid number of four, which meant most of the field would be behind me at the race starts... this made me somewhat nervous.

Session one was a right mare; we weren't allowed to pass any bike ahead, but some numpty, on a race bike went out at the front and meandered round like he was riding through a carpark; honestly, slower than any track-day virgin I've seen. About half way through the session the instructors realised what was going on and waved everyone passed the guy. Still, half the session wasted. I was a bit all over the place having not ridden track for a long time.

Session two was a lot more fun and I was just getting into my stride, sorting my gear/corner matching when some old boy on a 40 year old 2-stoke Yamaha blew his engine, which cut that session short.

We then had the race starts. Being at #4 meant I had a good view of the lights and track as there was only one bike in front of me and he was over to the left. I expected to be a hell of a lot more nervous; I think if I was five rows back, with all those bikes in front I would probably have bricked my self. I didn't turn around to look, out of site out of mind!!

First race start there were no dramas, the guy in front of me fluffed his launch and I could have dived through, but we weren't racing, so left it. On the mass start he fluffed it again, but I was aware of several other bikes around me, then someone came flying passed me on the outside, so I just took Paddock Bend in the middle of the corner knowing there were people on both sides of me.

And that was that, I can, if I want to pay another £56 get myself a race licence. Although I've done the course and passed the test, I don't have any intention of going racing, but it was an interesting day... and if the opportunity arrises...

On a side note; MCN were at Brands Hatch on the same day putting together an article about doing track days on A2 licence (less than 400cc, basically) bikes; see that article here.