Photo by Shaun Bexley There are places in life that feel familiar the moment you step into them — as if a piece of you has been there long before your first visit. For many of us, the motorcycle track is one of those places. The first time we walk through the paddock, weaving between […]
Why We Keep Coming Back: The Track as a Second Home Read More »
Photo by Theo Poncet If you’ve spent even one morning in the paddock, you know how alive it feels. The smell of fuel, the shuffle of warm-up routines, someone torque-checking bolts for the fourth time. Every rider shows up with a goal. Every bike has a story. And every lap relies on one group of
Unsung Heroes of the Paddock: A Tribute to the Marshals Behind Every Safe Lap Read More »
Photo by Christian Romei There’s a quiet truth you learn pretty fast in the paddock: you don’t need a race bike to ride the track — you just need a bike that’s predictable. We’ve seen riders roll in with bone-stock street machines, zip-tied headlights, and mismatched tires… and have the time of their lives. We’ve
Three Track Setups on Three Budgets Read More »
Photo by Karthegan Padmanaban Walking into your first first track day can feel like stepping into a whole new world. Everyone seems dialed in — warmers, stands, tire gauges that look like they belong in a MotoGP pit. Meanwhile, you might be figuring out how to strap your bike into a U-Haul trailer without looking
Track Prep on a Budget: What You Actually Need for Day One Read More »
You don’t have to spend long in the paddock before someone mentions Keith Code. If you hang around long enough, you’ll eventually see one of his books pulled out of a gear bag, hear someone quoting “the wrist,” or spot that California Superbike School logo on a set of leathers. There’s a reason for that:
From Survival Reactions to Control: What I Learned from Keith Code Read More »
Photo by TrackDNA Most riders expect their first track day to be loud, chaotic, or intimidating. Mine wasn’t. It was quiet, human, and unexpectedly welcoming — and it changed everything I thought I knew about track life. Your first track morning doesn’t hit all at once. It sneaks up on you — in the cool
Beyond Lap Times: Your First Track Morning and the Soul of the Paddock Read More »
Photo: Ohlins.com If you’ve ever walked past the suspension tent and thought, “I don’t even know what to say,” you’re not alone. Every rider starts there. Even though I was a full-time certified motorcycle mechanic at the time — and had ridden everything from street bikes to dirt — stepping into the world of sport
How to Talk to a Suspension Tuner at Your Next Track Day Read More »
Photo by WP Your second motorcycle track day doesn’t feel like your first. There’s still some nervous energy buzzing under the suit, but now it’s mixed with something quieter — a subtle confidence that only comes from knowing what not to do. My first track day humbled me in all the classic ways. I ran
Second Track Day: Key Lessons, Mistakes, and Mindset Shifts for Track Riders Read More »
Photo by Ronnzy Moto By my second motorcycle track day, I realized something every new rider eventually discovers the hard way: the real riding happens between the sessions. The track teaches you lines and speed. The paddock teaches you how to actually survive the day. If you’re new to track days or struggling with fatigue,
Between Sessions: Reset Routines That Helped Me Stay Sharp on Track Days Read More »
Photo by J.F – Japan There’s a strange window of time right after the morning riders’ meeting — when everyone walks back to their pits and the paddock noise climbs again. Even with a few track days behind me, I felt that familiar rush of nervous energy building in my chest. It wasn’t fear. It
Taming the Nerves: A Mental Game Plan for Session One Read More »
