Interview with Gary Adshead, Chief Riding Coach for CSS’ UK chapter who also handles the seminars for the UK schools, which cover the UK, Europe, Middle East, South Africa and India

Gary handled all our classroom sessions over the three days, explaining the drills, providing us with the theory and conveying what was expected of us during the on-track sessions. A great repository of motorcycling knowledge, Gary has been to India to conduct the school five times now, and we caught up with him for a quick chat before the weekend wrapped up.

Bike India (BI): We have just concluded the first 2017 batch of CSS India. How have these three days been, and what do you think of the participants this year?

Gary Adshead (GA): From my perspective, and after speaking to a lot of the coaches, this has probably been one of the best Indian schools we have done in terms of the students themselves, their attitude, their approach to learning and the application out on track. So certainly the school staff are very happy with what we have done.

BI: So we can expect you guys back again next year?

GA: Of course! We like coming around here, and every time we’re out here it’s a revelation. The riders are improving and making the changes, and word of the school is starting to spread, which is good as well.

BI: How important is India in the annual CSS calendar?

GA: I think it’s going to become more and more important. There are an awful lot of riders here who have heard of the school and yet haven’t done the school, and the only constraint that I can see really is in terms of getting here regularly. It’s one of those places where you know you want to come back, but fitting it into the calendar is the hardest part.

BI: Apart from the students being a lot more involved and willing to apply the teachings, what other changes do you see at CSS India?

GA: I think it’s becoming more professional. Everybody is now getting used to the way we work; they understand what we need to make the school a success in terms of equipment, and the advertising’s great.

BI: How well-suited to the training do you find the MMRT circuit? GA: The coaches all like the track; every coach brought here has thoroughly enjoyed riding on the track. Now that it’s been resurfaced it’s probably lost a bit of its character. This track is very well suited to the school because it’s one of those places where it’s long enough to be interesting, but not too long that we can’t work with the students and service them properly. It’s effectively two halves; you have a fast half out back and some long turns, and you have got the tighter stuff at the back of the paddock. It’s just a really interesting track.