A superbike on a public road is a waste of the machine. A superbike on a racetrack is one of the purest riding experiences there is. No oncoming traffic, no speed limit, no wildlife crossings — just asphalt, braking points, and the will to hit a line.
What bike trackdays are
Unlike car trackdays, motorcycle trackdays are organized into experience groups: beginner, intermediate, fast. That’s not just for show. The speed differences between someone on their first trackday and a seasoned rider are enormous. An honest self-assessment protects you from crashes and from frustration.
What you need
- Full-face helmet, ideally with a current homologation
- One-piece leathers or a two-piece suit that zips together all the way around
- Airbag vest — no longer a luxury, but the standard
- Race boots, race gloves, back protector
- Bike in trackday spec: no license-plate holder, coolant replaced, mirrors removed or taped over
Riding without an airbag means riding below today’s standard.
Schools instead of open trackdays
For beginners, open trackdays are the wrong choice. Schools like the California Superbike School, Almeria training programs, or the Yamaha R/SBK Experience cost more, but they put instructors on the track, offer video analysis, and give you clear exercises. After three days at a school, a rider is smoother than after ten open trackdays.
Our recommendation
For getting started, we recommend a school in southern Europe in spring — Almeria, Cartagena, Portimão. Warm weather, empty tracks, a full day of focus. For more advanced riders: Mugello, Misano, Brno. If you want to ride the Nordschleife on a motorcycle, know this: tourist sessions don’t allow motorcycles. Anyone riding a bike on the Nordschleife is doing a registered event or nothing at all.