BMW Motorbike Track Day at Silverstone

It’s no secret that I love speed and I love motorbikes and although I ride an BMW F800GS I also have a bit of a thing for BMW’s S1000RR, so naturally, I jumped at the chance to do a track and training day with the BMW Bahnstormer group and Focused Events on BMW’s ultimate superbike at Silverstone.

Feeling pretty happy about the track day!

A track day is an organised event in which members of the public are allowed to ride around established motor racing circuits.

I had a big grin on my face arriving at the legendary track with the sun shining and barely a cloud in the sky. Perfect conditions!

Focused Events have worked closely with BMW to package the ultimate track and training day. On arrival we had a cup of tea, pain au chocolates (it’s like they knew I was coming) and met our instructors for the day, Tommy Hill, 2011 British Superbike Champion, and Taylor McKenzie, who rides in the British Super Sport 600 Championship (legends)!

Split in to smaller groups of 4-6 people the day is divided up by four 20minute track sessions with the instructors leading, watching and giving feedback afterwards. When not on the track time is spent on several key skill areas.

My day began on the monkey bikes with body position training. Being much smaller you can easily move your position on the bikes and manoeuvre them with confidence. It was a great way to start and get a feel for where you should be on a bike when entering and going around a corner.

I'm on the left following Tommy Hill working on body position — I’m on the left following Tommy Hill working on body position

Focused events have devised a wonderful way to work on cornering technique with their cornering technique system (CTS) bike. By attaching what looks like giant stabilisers to an F 800 riders can learn the technique of ‘counter-steering’ without the danger of crashing through overloading the front tyre. Looks crazy, but works a treat.

Focused events Cornering Technique System in action!

Being on the track, riding the monkey bikes and working on the CTS bike are all quite physical so it was good to have some ‘classroom’ time where the instructors talked us through the circuit, drove us around it and also demonstrated positions and techniques.

A track day is thrilling and exciting as well as quite intimidating, my confidence grew each time I went out though. With the skill work and feedback from the instructors I felt much more in control and got faster into and out of the corners. It was good to feel like what was happening was planned and intended rather than thinking, “phew, I got away with that”.

BMW and focused events have it all covered; top class instructors, incredible superbikes, small groups, a well planned day with a balance of track time and training time and because they understand the importance of people feeling good there’s a constant supply of tea, coffee and delicious food..

A cup of tea and some beautiful bikes! — A cup of tea and some beautiful bikes..

All photos were taken and kindly provided by John Gilbride, BMW Bahnstormer Alton Hampshire (except the cup of tea and pain au chocolate ones – they were my own handy work!)..

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