JAMES WHITHAM MOTORCYCLE TRACK TRAINING
Learn to ride on-circuit with Whit and his Bsb-riding mates
TRACKDAYS CAN BE an intimidating atmosphere for anyone new to circuit riding, with the fear of crashing your bike or being too slow a common theme amongst those who fancy the idea but are too nervous to try one. This is something ex-racer and general all-round good bloke James Whitham spotted and is why, alongside Paul Drinkwater, he created his Motorcycle Track Training Days in 2012.
Unlike most trackdays, Whitham’s Training Days operate on limited numbers with only 20 riders out on track at a time to ensure quality traffic-free track time and so the coaches can easily assess and monitor riders. It is this small-group environment that sets his training days aside from other track-based schools — not to mention the standard of instructors.
“We have a very strict ‘no nugget’ instructor policy; all the coaches here today are good lads who are also excellent at sharing their knowledge of riding a motorcycle,” explains James “They aren’t here to pull wheelies and show-off; they genuinely love helping riders progress.” However as well as being ‘good lads’ they are also fast and include current Bsb-level riders such as Christian Iddon, Kyle Ryde, Taylor Mackenzie, Dean Harrison, James Westmoreland and Whitham himself.
On a trackday, safety is paramount and the day starts with the usual rider briefing to run through flags and general track etiquette. Delivered by James, his level of knowledge allows him to add circuitspecific details and at Mallory, he points out two areas to be extra careful (entering Gerard’s and exiting Edwinas) but does so in his usual jovial fashion so you take the knowledge in but don’t feel intimidated.
Each trackday is split into three groups — novice, intermediate and advanced — with at least two coaches per group. Whitham tends to stick with the novice and intermediate groups as these are the ones that can benefit the most from his knowledge while the advanced group is often comprised of racers or experienced track riders looking to fine-tuning their skills, something the current Bsb-level coaches are better suited to.
Slotting into the advanced group, the first thing that struck me was how quick the group was. Fast groups on trackdays are often rapid but this one was noticeably a step up and full of riders who were obviously racers or trackday regulars. Thanks to the small group size, however, even on a compact track like Mallory passing wasn’t an issue and you never felt it was overcrowded. The coaches, who usually ride the school’s Suzuki GSXR1000S, circulated amongst us and it felt like a quiet fast-group trackday.
After each session, your group’s instructors wait in one of the track’s garages for a debrief and a few hints and tips. There is no forcing riders to attend: if you want to chat, they are there; if not, you can just enjoy the trackday on your own with no coaching. My group’s instructors for the day were Kyle Ryde and James ‘Westy’ Westmoreland and even after just two sessions, I was surprised just how much they had picked up on, with both instructors highlighting individual rider’s mistakes, areas on the track that our group was a bit weak and lines that needed improving. I honestly didn’t think that they were watching us so closely but thanks to the small group size, both had been able to identified individual riders, follow us unnoticed for a few laps and remember our weak points. I felt they were there to coach us, not just play around on bikes.
As the day progressed and speeds increased, the format remained the same, with post-session debriefs if you wanted them and both coaches more than happy to follow or be followed for one-on-one laps, which delivered an even more detailed debrief afterwards. A format that every group seemed to reflect.
As well as excellent tuition, what struck me most about Whitham’s trackday was how few (if any) red flags there were (only one rider fell off all day) and the relaxed feeling of the event. I spoke to loads of riders in the novice and intermediate groups who all said they loved the non-intimidating atmosphere and complemented the coaches on being knowledgeable, helpful and attentive.
If you fancy the idea of doing your first trackday, I’d thoroughly recommend Whitham’s Track Training. You do pay a premium but the limit on group size and the excellent instruction means I feel it is the safest and most relaxed way to take to the circuit on your own bike. For those who have completed a few trackdays, the intermediate level group will certainly bring your riding up a level, thanks to the focused coaching while racers or highly experienced trackday riders can let loose with a Bsb-level coach watching them to fine tune their skills.
It’s got just about everything for every level of rider.