@pricetta and I did Level 3 at Donington Park with California Superbike School this week. As per usual, the CSS team were both really welcoming and fantastic with their schooling and on-track coaching. We both had a really fun and enjoyable time.
The focus of the day was body positioning, with the outcome being by improving it, you can stabilise the bike before, through and out of the turning, developing more confidence and enabling more speed. The difference was quite profound, even for an old hand like myself.
The weather forecast wasn’t great. It rained in the morning before going on track and stayed damp for a while, but the first few lessons don’t require you to use more than a single gear and no brakes, so it was absolutely fine. There were some rain showers later in the day, but the timing worked out so it wasn’t while we were on track. Over lunch it dried almost right out and we were able to get more of a pace on as we were allowed to use more gears, and some brakes over the rest of the day, with the last session being Dealers Choice - ride how you want.
I almost didn’t get to ride at all though! I had a mishap. The Constand I use with my V2 struck again, quite literally, by smashing me in the head with the leaver as the handle got away from me and the full weight of the bike going down forced the leaver up into my head - splitting the skin and requiring a trip to the Medical Center.
There the most humorous and caring medics, with the supervision of a doctor, used medical glue to stitch my head together and put a bit patch over it to enable me to get my helmet back on without bothering it. Bonus!
I won’t be using the stand again. It’s going in the bin. Will get some traditional paddock stands. It’s a shame though, as I really liked the stand, but it’s bloody lethal!
First time being injured at a trackday in 20 years, and I wasn’t even on circuit!
Got a towing vehicle now. Much quicker and simpler than with the EV, which would have been fine around the UK, more or less, but we plan on going further afield where the extra time needed with an EV wouldn’t be much fun.
Just been patched up in the Medical Center. Fantastic facilities here at the track.
There’s much more room at the circuit on a CSS day, so here’s our area. We bunched up but didn’t need to really.
Claire getting ready to go out for her first practice session!
Classroom lessons - Static body position demos and testing.
One of the other body position demo bikes.
Fanciest fuel can I’ve ever seen!
Initial briefing. I was in the medical center being treated like a real racer at this point.
Claire getting some words of advice from her coach before heading out on track.
Claire having a debrief with her on-track coach after a practice session.
Claire putting into practice some body position improvements, through the foggy esses.
Claire starting to adopt some more body position learnings.
Claire implementing the Hook Turn technique through the last corner. Looking good!
And at the end, Claire won best student award for making the most progress on the day! Some BSB/WSB tickets on the way. Congrats and well done Claire!
Me about to have my debrief with my on-track coach. He’s probably wondering what the hell I’m doing on the bike after a trip to the medical center.
Foggy Esses
Last corner, I think. Tarmac still feels not quite 100% dry at this point, so going a bit easier.
Tipping into the last corner, I think.
Again, last corner. Don’t think the photographer wanted to move from the pits very far.
If you have any interest in improving your track riding, I would 100% recommend California Superbike School. It’s without a doubt the best way to improve, no matter your experience level (novice to old hand like me) and the experience is so much fun! Plus the people are some of the nicest you’ll ever meet. Great atmosphere.