There are many factors to consider when choosing a rider school; because there are many choices, the decision can sometimes be more difficult than we may anticipate. As an avid track day rider, coach, and sometimes amateur racer, it is important that I get the most for my money when I attend a rider school. I consider the opportunity to give back to fellow riders an honor and responsibility. Attending a school which might also help me to become a better coach was an important factor in my decision. I enjoy racing and plan to continue in the future so I was looking for a school which might offer tips for aspiring racers.
After considering information found in magazine reviews, internet forums, and feedback from close friends, both fellow coaches and riders, I decided to attend the Yamaha Champions Riding School (YCRS). The school was offered at New Jersey Motorsports Park which allowed me to ride my own machine, another factor in my decision. Although I was apprehensive about the cost, everything I read and heard about YCSR suggested it was well worth the price and I felt it was time to put the “seat time” versus “class time” myth to the test.
It has been some time since I attended a class for something I was so passionate about. Taking a professional class or attending graduate classes has been important in growing the knowledge in my field and serving to increase the respect of my peers. In this case, motorcycling is my passion, while it does not pay my bills, it is something I am dedicated to and I hope to do it and be a part of it for as long as I am able. As the class approached I became nervous and this was a foreign feeling for me. I was aware of the instructors and their pedigree and this too was intimidating. I’ve had confidence issues for the last 18 months and I’ve felt that my riding skills have not progressed.
I arrived at the class with clear goals and questions which I was confident would help me to leave a better rider. I was happy to learn that the instructors take goals and having a plan for each session on the race track very seriously. An important part of the class was discussing our goals individually and understanding where we each felt we needed improvement. Additionally, there were times when we had to discuss our plans for each session with an instructor before getting on track. This was especially helpful in that each instructor took the time to understand what we were trying to accomplish. At times, an instructor would reel me in and keep me from trying to accomplish too much. This feedback was especially important in that it helped me to maximize the the time on track and it also helped me to realize just how committed each instructor was to my becoming a better rider. There was no nodding and smiling from these guys, they listened and offered actionable feedback for each rider and what they were telling each of us was different. After speaking with the folks in my group I realized that we were each being led to our individual potential with feedback structured for our own personal style and skill level.
Fly-by discussion at the Yamaha Champions Riding School
There is so much information contained in the two days of class that it is difficult to highlight any one point. Riding a motorcycle well and doing so to be smooth and fast – a world champion – is very much a ballet of rider and machine. The rider executing the proper techniques with the most finesse at the precise time will likely be most successful. The Instructors constantly reminded us that changing the direction of the motorcycle is our goal, slow hands are the key to approaching the limits without surpassing them, and small adjustments are the key to making improvements on a consistent basis. One of the most important aspects of any learning program is the way in which information is communicated and this includes the instructors and their attitudes.
The instructors are professionals, their backgrounds and experience are evident and they are well respected in the motorcycle community. Each instructor commands and they do so by treating each student with respect as if every each will be the next champion. It is obvious through the feedback that the instructors believe in the students and truly want each to be a better rider. The feedback is not meant to give anyone a false sense of accomplishment, but to make us better riders and the instructors expect the students to listen and participate. Very early in the class, I was committed to completing the drills and giving my best performance so that I wouldn’t disappoint. The drills and sessions are designed to maximize the time on the race track while allowing the instructors to offer actionable feedback.
I began this class clinging to a number of myths as if they were the Ten Commandments hot off a holy press nestled in a fluffy white cloud. As I listened to the classroom sessions, completed the drills, and was given feedback, the myths slowly began to sort themselves. I found that some of the things I’d heard were true, some false, and some of the things I took as absolutes were not the case at all.
Van rides with Yamaha Champions Riding School coaches
As I listened to the classroom discussions and completed the drills, I was able to investigate a number of myths myself and do so at my own pace. During the class, I was able to try new skills at a pace which was very conducive to learning. I found that I wasn’t going so fast as to be unsafe or not properly perform the skill. Additionally, I was able to try new skills at a pacer closer to my average which would allow me to better feel the machine while performing the skills and relate it to my own riding.
The drills are designed to be fun, challenging, and enlightening. I came away from every drill we did disappointed that there wasn’t more time for practice. It is obvious that time has been spent developing drills which allow the students to realize where they need improvement, challenge the students situational awareness, and reinforce the importance of proper technique. There are some surprises as well which really summarize the class and help the student leave with a feeling of accomplishment but also a plan to continue to build skills.
Following lead instructor Nick Ienatsch and classmate Ben Younger during a drill session
Each goal I had for the class was investigated and covered over the two days. In fact, the instructors insist that students leave the class with their expectations met. This is mentioned many times in the classroom and in fact is one of the school rules. Students are urged to ask questions and each is question is discussed until the students are satisfied that they have an understanding of the answer.
There is no doubt I left the class a better rider. I have a better understanding of trail braking, how it affects the machine, how I can use it to be smoother and faster on the racetrack. I am now better able to dissect a racetrack and understand where I may be losing [or gaining] speed. My body position and small adjustments are much better and I will now continue to refine them using the proper techniques.
That the instructors each come with extensive and respectable backgrounds in motorcycling is the most truth-in-print I have seen in many years and an understatement of universal proportions. Nick Ienatsch, Ken Hill, Dale Kieffer, Shane Turpin, and Mark Schellinger were the instructors during my YCRS at the New Jersey Motorsports Park. In addition, Scott Russell was a guest instructor and lent his vast knowledge of racing and outrageous stories to the experience. If you are unfamiliar with any of these names, take the time to do the research, each one of these men are well known, well respected, and considered experts in the motorcycle industry.
I believe that riders of all levels can benefit from the Yamaha Champions Riding School and shoudl be prepared to leave a better rider with a refinements which show improvements quickly.
- YCRS on the grid at New Jersey Motorsports Park
For more information on YCRS visit: http://www.millermotorsportspark.com/riding-school/yamaha-champions-riding-school.html
