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10 ways to get the most out of a track day - Bob Pickett cobbles together advice on how to get the best of riding a motorcycle on the track

With thanks to Martin Gelder from Realclassic.co.uk for the photographs

To get the most of a track day... When I first decided to do a track day, I wanted to try to get the best out of it. So I did my homework. Speaking to other people that had done track days, instructors helped, as did a spot of hitting the books. What follows is the result, so I hope you can get something useful out of it.

If you really want to find out just what your bike (and you) is capable of, then there is nothing better than a track day to do so. Nothing coming the other way, ultra-sticky tarmac and no threat of cow-poo or the like on the road. But to get the most out of it, a little preparation goes a long way. So here is the 10 step guide to getting the most out of your track time.

1 Get an early night

Fact: All track day organisers are insomniacs. Track days start very early (check in and briefing will often take place between 7:30 and 8:00 AM). And unless you happen to live next door to the track, it is a fair bet you are going to have a long ride ahead of you before you even get a look at the circuit. You are also going to have a full day on track, plus the long ride home again.

So get to bed early and make sure you get a good night's sleep. Also, leave off the booze the night before - you really do need to be as fresh as possible and a belly full of lager isn't going to help.

Before you set off, try and have a light breakfast (cereal or toast, not a full-English!) - with everything going on at the circuit, you might not get the chance there and it will be a long time to lunch. Hunger pangs aren't going to help your concentration, and you've got a lot to learn ahead of you.

2 Take the right kit

You need to have one or two piece (zip together) leathers, proper bike boots and gloves. You must also be wearing an ACU Gold-approved helmet (just check for the sticker on the back). You'll also need to take your licence along with you. Apart from that, the bike has to be fit to ride, so tyres need to have sufficient tread on them, chain needs to be lubed and so on.

If you have some (easily removable) tape, then you'll want to take that along. Once you are at the track, mirrors, indicators and clocks all have to be taped over. The track will provide some if you haven't got any, but this might be a bugger to remove, so if you've got some, then take your own.

...listen to what you're told... 3 Wrap up warm

Remember, you are making a very early start - yes, it might get toasty hot later on, but at 5:30 in the morning, it is still going to be cold and wet. And you've probably got a long ride ahead of you. So stick an over-jacket on top of the leathers, or wear your Winter jacket on the way there, with the leather one strapped to the pillion perch.

If you get frozen on the way there, you are not going to take in everything you need to learn. And there is a good chance you'll still be cold and not reacting properly if you are out on the first session of the day. Remember, you've paid a lot to do this, so you want to get the most out of it from the off.

4 Listen and Learn

After you've booked in, there will be a briefing. This takes you through things you need to know about the track (has it been raining the night before? If so, are there any wet patches you need to know about?), what the different flags mean and the rules and regulations of the day. Take careful note - the organisers are not telling you all of this to exercise their vocal chords. Take in what you're being told and you'll be far more prepared for what is about to happen.

First timers should get an additional briefing - this takes them through a few things that more experienced track day riders already know, such as track etiquette and what the instructors do. If this is your first time, really take this in - it will come in very useful in a few minutes when you take your first hesitant wobbles out onto the track! If there isn't an additional briefing for novices, then tell the instructor this is your first time and ask if there is anything else you need to know.

...watch and learn from the faster riders and instructors... 5 Watch and Learn - and don't be afraid to ask

The first few laps of the track will be run in strict formation (no overtaking!), riding behind an instructor. This is for two reasons; firstly to get your tyres warmed up and second, to let you get used to the track layout. The instructor will gradually up the pace and then he will signal you to go past. Make the most of this time to get used to what is going on around you and work out your initial braking points etc.

After that, you are out on your own. You are out there to enjoy yourself, so do it!

Remember, THIS IS NOT A RACE! If you see any antics going on ahead, or a couple of mates obviously getting into "race mode", back off, let them get on with it and do your own thing. They will only get pulled over by the instructors (assuming they don't take themselves out of the game) for a warning, or they might even be kicked out. So don't get yourself caught up in it and have your day ruined by someone else's stupidity.

That said, there is nothing wrong with spotting another rider who is circulating at about the same pace as you and following them round for a while. Not racing of course, but just tucking in behind at a safe distance (remember, you are not trying to force them into an error) and seeing what they are up to, any lines they are taking that work well - or not as the case may be.

If you find you are a "Track God" (relatively speaking of course - your newly discovered Deity status will get very deflated when an instructor appears and goes past like you are standing still) and are flying past one and all, just keep it up for the rest of the session. The instructors WILL notice and will move you into a higher group, more in tune with your performance. Likewise, if you're off the pace in your current group, they will move you down a level. This is for your own good and to let you get the most out of the day, so don't throw a sulk, they're doing it for your benefit!

Track days are also a great opportunity to work on any areas of your skills that you would like to polish. So make full use of the instructors. They are not just there to take you out on those first few laps, they are there to pass on their knowledge. So don't hold back from asking them to take you round for a couple of laps, or get them to show you how something is done. The more you learn early on, the better it is going to be later and the more you will get out of the day.

Likewise, there may be experts on set-up, or even a Dyno available. The Dyno will probably cost more, but the set-up specialist may well be included as part of the package. Bikes are set up by the factory on compromise settings based on the "average" rider. So an experienced spanner-man could be just the thing to get your settings altered to make the bike suit you.

...eat properly... 6 Split the track into sections

Even the top racers need time to learn a track - why should you be any different? You don't need to learn the track in one go - you will probably have four sessions in the morning, with a similar amount in the afternoon. So why not use the morning sessions to break down the track into component parts?

This gives you the chance to concentrate on one section each time, really learning the braking areas, where to get the power down and so on. Once you've got one section nailed, then time to work on the next one.

OK, you need to know the whole track layout, but you'll get the basics down in your first session.

If you're REALLY serious about this, then see if you can get hold of a map of the track, or even draw one of your own. Make notes regarding parts you've really nailed, where you need to improve, where your braking areas are and so on. Please don't get "anal" over this - after all, it IS supposed to be fun! - but getting everything clear and organised in your head is going to be very useful for the afternoon's entertainment.

7 Enjoy lunch - but be sensible

After a mornings workout (which will be over all too quickly), time to get some lunch. Whatever you do, LEAVE OFF THE PASTIES, CHIPS AND BEANS! Stuffing yourself full of stodge really isn't a good idea - riding around with a belly full of lard will feel very uncomfortable, which is going to affect your concentration - not a good idea when you are on track with 30 other riders - and can also make you feel tired - and by now you've probably been on the road/track for five hours or more.

What you really need is a light lunch, washed down with a still drink (no fizz, this will also slosh around in your gut and make you uncomfortable). If you need a boost during the afternoon, then a chocolate bar is a good idea - it provides instant energy.

...take a break if you need one and keep those fluids right... 8 Put it all together

Time to put that hard work during the morning together. If you've broken down the track into sections and worked on learning them during the morning, then you've now got all the ammunition you need to up the pace and start seeing what you can really do.

Don't try to get off to a flyer though - you've just had an hour's break and need to get yourself back in the swing of things again. So start off (relatively) slowly and build up the pace as you get back into it. The first session should take care of this, so the next couple of sessions are when you should be ready to really crack on.

This is the most rewarding part of the day without a doubt. Track learned, skills honed and plenty of time ahead to see just how good you really are. But don't get cocky with it - push too hard or lose concentration and all your hard work will go to waste as you end up on the floor. And remember, you still need to get home, so trashing your bike due to over-confidence really isn't a good idea!

...and it will all come together nicely... 9 Watch fatigue

Towards the end of the day, you could have been up for 9 hours or more - and you've been working hard for most of those. So watch for fatigue. If you're feeling a little jaded, miss out a session and get yourself together - a sweet cup of tea or coffee will assist. It might seem odd, bearing in mind everyone has had the whole day to learn the track and hone their skills, but with tiredness creeping in, this is when accidents are going to happen, if at all.

Quite a few people miss out on their last session for this very reason - and it does give you the chance to order any photos from the inevitable track photographer and make an early start for home, ahead of the rest.

10 Ride home safely

Once it is all over, time for the ride home. With all the track work you've put in, you'll probably be silky smooth on the road - but please remember, you are now back in the world of speed limits, poor road surfaces and dumb drivers with zero attention spans. So please ride safely and get back home in one piece to tell the tale.

A big thank you to Apex Trackdays for letting us in to take the photographs. Their track days were friendly but well organised, they offer additional classroom briefing sessions for novices, and we were impressed by their overall approach. Sadly, it looks like they may have ceased trading, but fingers crossed for their future.

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