Getting a License - A Novices Guide to Starting Racing

Trackday's are a growing trend amongst the biking community; there's really no other feeling like getting out on track for the first time to test the limits of yourself and your machinery without the threat of a lamp post or car drivers. Trackdays are great fun, rewarding amongst a long list of other perks, but like myself many seek greater things the "Holy Grail of motorcycling" you could call it. I remember sitting there watching Superbike Sunday as Marc Marquez duelled with Jorge Lorenzo at 200 mph, on the edge of human and mechanical possibilities. Crutchlow pinging himself skyward (again), thinking, "I really want to try this, how hard can it really be?" So I set out on a long, tiring, money sapping, time consuming, life changing journey that led me to the start line of an actual race, with people watching!

If you find yourself reading this, it's not because you can't decide whether you want to race or, it's in your head and nothing is going to stop you (apart from the money, that stops us all!). This guide won't be about helping you chose to race or not, just give you the tools that will allow you to start your journey; it will give you all the information about how to get going in Road Racing. (ACUs term for Short Circuit track racing)

What License Can I apply for? Firstly you need to know what license you're going to apply for. The two available for first timers are: Novice & Intermediate Novice. Below is a extract from the ACU guidelines outlining the requirements for each license.

https://members.acu.org.uk/2016-Road-Race-Notes.pdf

REMEMBER: If you have a Full UK "A" License, apply for the Intermediate Novice License. This will allow you to enter races on any capacity machine.


Step 1: Filling out the forms
So now you know which license to apply for, there are two options: Online or Paper Form, the good old paper method is probably the best option for new license applications as there are a number of things you need to do before you can send off the form.

A. Download a copy of the ACU Competition License application form and print out a copy.
2017 ACU Competition Road Race License Application Form
(If you don't have a printer you can call the ACU on 01788566400 and they will post a copy to you)

B. Fill out all the relevant sections (guidance file link)

C. You will need 4 additional items before the ACU will accept your application
     i.    A nice pretty picture of you - Passport photo is ideal. It'll go on your license so make it a good            one!
     ii.   An eye test - Take page 2 of the form to any optician and they should be able to complete this              for you. Most will charge a fee but if you're lucky some are free. They will test you, sign it and            stamp the form to say you've passed.
     iii.  An affiliation code (See Step 2)
     iv.  CTC & Basic Rider Assessment Course Pass (See Step 3)

D. Complete Steps 2 & 3 and get your License!

Step 2: Join a Club
To get a Road Race License you must join an ACU affiliated club. In this guide I won't cover or suggest clubs to join, that's completely up to you based on what class of bike you have and what championship you want to race in. Joining a club will not tie you to this club permanently it's just a requirement for the application.  I myself, joined 1 club and raced with them throughout the year, I felt this was best as you got to know the people and the way that club runs their race weekends. Others feel trying different rounds with different clubs gave them a better understanding of which club they preferred, do what you feel is best for you. There is no limit to the amount of clubs you can join but you will need a membership to enter that specific clubs events. (Ie. A membership to No Limits Racing will not allow you to race with Thundersport)
Most clubs now allow you to apply online, the cost is around £30 and this will allow you to enter all of that clubs events throughout the calendar year.
IMPORTANT: Once you've joined a club, you will get sent a 9 digit ACU affiliation code, make sure you fill this code out in Section 6 of your ACU Application Form (See Step 1 item C. iii) as it is one of the mandatory requirements.

Step 3: Do the Course
This is the final stage of the application process and requires you to complete 2 courses, most if not all providers will do them both in one day:
Competitor Training Course (CTC) - Classroom session where you will be tutored on various aspects of racing, such as flags, safety, etc. At the end of the sessions you will need to answer a multiple choice test, it's nothing to worry about, just make sure you pay attention to to teacher!
Basic Rider Assessment (BRA) - This is an on-track course (so you'll need your bike), it will cover a range of practical exercises that will introduce you to all aspects of on-track race craft. It will assess your competency to ride and give you the chance to experience attending the assembly area > coming onto the grid > the warm-up lap > the lights and the best bit...the start!

 You can find a list of 2017 courses here

Finally, the course leader will stamp Section 7 of your application form and in most cases be responsible for sending off your form to the ACU for processing, approval and eventually a brand new shiny Road Race Licence card through the post! It can take a couple of weeks to come through so don't worry if it doesn't arrive before your first race, you can call the ACU and they will give you your license number so the club you race with can cross reference it with their records.
IMPORTANT: Remember to take your application form with you to the CTC/BRA course, ensuring you have attached a photo, passed your eye test and filled out your affiliation code in Section 6 (See Step 2).

That's it, just one of the stages complete towards doing your first race. The next section will cover your bike and how to prepare it for racing. Below are some useful links to the ACU and some major clubs.

Useful Links
ACU (Auto Cycle Union)
2017 ACU Competition Road Race License Application Form
License Form Guidance Notes
ACU CTC/BRA Training Courses 2017
No Limits Racing Race School
Thundersport GB
North Gloucester Road Racing Club (NGRRC)

Stunning Second at Snetterton

It was a short stint to Round 2 of the Metzeler Newcomer 600s Championship with No Limits Racing. Just 15 days after leaving Oulton Park Round 1 we were setting up in the paddock for another weekend of close racing.

The forecast for Friday Test was a bad one, no matter which app you usually confide in, they were all saying wet, even The Weather Channel which tends to be overly optimistic! Having slipped off on 'muddy' Murrays corner 2 weeks prior, I was aware of the danger! We got set up and were going to play it by ear, quite literally. As I woke on Friday to the sound of rain bashing against the van roof, it didn't inspire confidence that a prank was being played with a hose pipe. Hastily opening the door confirmed my worries which was swiftly slammed shut and I returned to bed! Later hearing upwards of 50 riders took a tumble that day tells me if I had ridden, one of them would definitely have been me!

Onwards to Saturday Morning and a wet start to proceedings. Snetterton in the wet with only 12 minutes qualifying leaves a maximum of around 4 laps to get a quick one in. Heavy spray was being kicked up which made it's way onto the inside of the visor meaning visibility was extremely limited. Clear track opening up in front gave an opportunity of the visor to clear and managed to stick in a time good enough for 8th place.



GOOOOOOOOOOOOOO! Race 1 is away and it's a great start, into 4th and for once away with the "Leaders". It's a lap of 2 halves, Sector 1 had a very definitive dry line all the way to the Bentley Straight but Sector two was still rather wet. Lap 1 complete in 4th place with only 3 seconds covering the top 5. Into Brundle for the second time, a good drive down the Bentley Straight and I was up to second! Keeping pace with leader it was certainly a battle of nerves but I was better placed following to see where we could push the boundaries. Lap 4 and I'd been taken and pushed into third at Ago's, then a mistake onto the back straight and I was struggling to keep up. 3rd place I thought... it's all I'd dreamed of this year was one trophy. But then I thought, I think I'd like a bigger one! The leaders had bunched up and by the end or Corams I was right there with them, into the left hander then CRASH!!! Back stepped out on the power and snaps back into line, straight over the bars and down hard! But for once IT WASN'T ME! Marginally missing both bike and rider I'd dropped 2 seconds behind the leader, time to consolidate 2nd when the Red Flags came out.
The confusion was unbearable! We crossed the line for what had been 3/4 distance and I was trying to recount where I had finished on count back, but it didn't matter. It was a result! I'd finally managed to do what I set out to do 4 years ago when I set out on this journey. Something realistically I never though was possible, but it did!

Fans cheering from the bank. (okay no fans but my Dad and girlfriend Michelle were there, they're probably my biggest!) The joy was genuinely overwhelming, all the hard work, crashes, money, broken bikes, blown engines, more crashes, more money. All symbolised by this one gold covered Cup.

The other races were relatively boring in comparison so you don't really need to hear about them! This won't be the last post but I'll end it with a massive... THANK YOU! To Mum, Michelle, Dad, Chris, everyone else that has helped, supported and whatever else you've done!

See you at Donington!

Alex James Photography
No Limits Racing
Symmetry It Solutions

Marquez leads in Sepang

The first day of the 2014 MotoGP test season has kicked off at the Sepang circuit with Marc Marquez starting where he left off... Leading from the front. He leads Rossi by 0.5s with Pedrosa jumping ahead of Lorenzo 0.1s further behind.

The talking point running up to the first test was the split between the Factory and Open bikes. With only 5 engines, 20 litres of fuel and a control ECU against the open class' 12 engines and 24 litres the gap is rapidly closing between the two, Espagaro posted a 2:01.419 which is only 1.1s off Marquez's time.

Eyes will be firmly fixed on Ducati who are once again lagging far behind the other factory bikes and have reportedly made a move towards switching to the open class. We should probably hang off any judgment just yet, it's day one and there's plenty of time for a Ducati resurgence, but I won't be holding my breath!

Full Timings can be found here:

Sepang Test - Day 1