TRACK TESTED
Elite Sportbike Trackday ReviewJim RichardsonPage 2
continued... Even our Pit Crew noticed the difference. “The first few sessions, you could tell that some of the participants were straining at the bit and wanting to go faster,” she said after spending the day watching riders work through the esses, “and they probably could have, but they were all over the place. By the last session every one of them was a lot smoother and faster.”
In addition to the structure of the classroom program, newbies were also aided by the fact that there were never more than four students assigned to each instructor, making it much easier and less intimidating for riders to ask questions and get personalized help. The Elite Sportbike experience does come at a price, though. Since group size is limited, the cost can be slightly more than is charged by some other organizations. However, unlike most companies and clubs, there is no annual “membership fee” that you have to pay on top of the trackday price, so it evens out. For track junkies, there’s also a “free ride.” Attend any 10 Elite trackdays and you get a voucher for a free day at any track, any time over the next nine months. If the idea of Elite’s smaller groups and emphasis on safety appeals to you, you’re not alone. Renowned English motorcycle journalist Neale Bayly was putting a Ducati through its paces at Carolina Motorsports Park during the weekend we were there. Darryl and Lori Cannon of Killboy.com joined them at Barber in November. And we’ll be riding with them again as well. For more information on Elite Sportbike go to http://www.elitesportbike.com/ or call 1-88-TRACKDAY
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