So, having already taken part in Levels One at Silverstone on the Stowe circuit two years ago on a School hire Ducati 1199 Panigale where I was taught all about throttle control and turning the bike with an eye-opening lesson on counter steering. Then it was onto Level Two which took me to Brand Hatch last summer on board a Kawasaki ZX-10R to focus on developing visual skills to make the road or track an easier place to ride, spotting danger, a reference point or even an exit point of a corner early enough to amend your line
And now onto Level Three on the physically demanding, narrow yet picturesque 2.2 mile Cadwell Park circuit where even the straights are curved. And the bonus of having completed two of these school days before, is that I knew what to expect which can be a little daunting.
With bike and riding kit packed in the van the night before as well as extra fuel, a bit of food and a towel I was good to go for the 90-minute trip to Cadwell Park.
My overnight excitement was dampened, literally, by the clattering of rain on bedroom window. Nonetheless, I was on site ahead of the recommended 7.30am and once the obligatory signing-on, licence check, kit check, tyre pressure adjustment and of course a quick brew and bacon sandwich area all out of the way, the standard safety and introductory briefing takes place.
Before starting an engine, my group of six all there for Level Three were directed to mini marquee in the collecting area where a rider coach while sitting on a 959 Panigale explains drill no. 1: Hook Turn.
And just like real school, I get an earful from Christine, aka ‘Shouty Lady’, because I’m late to class! She’s there to make sure everyone is in the right place at the right time. A PA to all 60 of is essentially.
After reminding ourselves of Level Two’s hand signals including the last drill of that session; 'Pick up' which focuses on getting more grip as you drive out of a turn. And that moves us on to Hook Turn, the key point of which is stabilising the bike on entry, mid-corner and exit.
Again, before splashing our way onto the circuit, one-by-one we get our bodies into a position on the 959 to encourage a faster and soother turn. The spine is almost parallel with the ground and while the lower body stays rigid offering stability, it’s the head and upper body that move further away from the bike in the turn.
The "locked on" position on the bike is found by pushing on foot peg to lock the upper leg (femur) into the tank squeezing the thighs and pushing the heel into heel plates.
Leave a fist width between the fuel tank and your gentleman (or lady) parts to allow free movement around the tank without being too close, an affliction known as "tank shagging"!
When lean down either side of the front fairing the inside elbow makes a v-shape and while the weight is more forwards, it loads the front suspension which leads to better front end grip and the bike turns better without more lean angle. Ideal for wet conditions…like today.
As the throttle increases, the effect of the hook turn decreases because weight transfers to the rear leaving less grip and stability at the front. This technique is also useful for corners that tighten.
Once the coach is happy you can “lock on”, it’s off to your bike and out for the 20 minutes track session to put it into practice. And you’re encouraged to use one or two gears and as little brake as possible to keep speed down and concentration on the task up.
The rider coach will be out there on track too and is likely to have another two or three students to look at. He’ll assess by riding behind you then overtake giving a relevant and pre-discussed signal. He’ll sit in front for a few corners before waving you through. After the session he’ll then debrief you on the good bits and the bits that need a bit of work.
