FEATURE

British
super bikes Words Caroline Sandry Photos Keith Martin Photography

It’s a given that sport makes
your heart race, but some
more than others! Welcome
to the adrenaline charged,
heart thumping world of
British Superbikes!
If you have ever fancied yourself as a
bit of a speed demon, or wondered how it
would feel to hang off a superbike whilst
powering out of a corner……then read on!
The experience
When Ultra Fit asked me if I wanted to
attend a race school at Donnington Park, I
nearly stabbed my finger through my
keyboard as I eagerly typed “yes please”!
A big motor bike fan, and in complete
awe of the riders whose skill, passion,

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really close, personal instruction. After (reluctantly) handing the bikes back,
I was lucky enough to chat to Leon all riders have a de-briefing before being
Haslam (British Superbike rider and son of issued with a certificate and assessment
3 x world champion F1, and 6 x winner GP sheet (I scored 88/100).
- Ron Haslam) and his trainer Kirk At the end of the day, I was grinning
Gibbons. I asked them about Leon’s from ear to ear and totally exhausted! But I
training for race season and Kirk told me – couldn’t wait to get out on my motor bike
“Leon has a natural competitive spirit, so I at home, and immediately checked out
regularly train him with some motor cross when the next British Superbike race was
guys and this tends to up the intensity! to be shown on Eurosport! Good luck
Leon’s training needs to cover endurance, Leon, and a big thank you to the Ron
strength, strength endurance, flexibility Haslam Race School! UF
and core strength, and we train hard
whatever the weather. Focus is key to Tune into Eurosport 2 for Bennetts
winning, and training really helps to British Superbike coverage or to
develop this skill.” become a superbiker head to the
The Ron Haslam Race School runs like a Honda Ron Haslam race school,
well oiled machine and the atmosphere www.haslamraceschool.com
and energy throughout the school is
fantastic. There is great camaraderie
amongst the riders, who all share a
passion for motor cycling, and there is
friendly competition. The day is well
planned, with a briefing before going out
on the bikes, and chats with the
instructor in the pits between laps with
focus and lack of fear creates one of the feedback and further
most exciting sports to watch – I couldn’t instruction.
wait to see how it would feel to take a race
bike out onto a real circuit.
In spite of the poor conditions on the
day (and a sleepless night listening to
the rain with rising anxiety!) the
experience was nothing less than
awesome! Nerves were sent packing the
minute I opened the throttle and pointed
the bike at the first corner – and focus
took over. I was amazed when I had
finished that I had thought of nothing
else for those couple of hours…
just when to tip into the corner,
when to apply brakes, when to
power out of the corner and
what my instructor was
doing. The instructors are
superb and really inspire
confidence (a big thank you
to Derek Lloyd!) and with one
instructor to two riders you get

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