Taking a motorcycle onto a racetrack for the first time is intimidating—especially when you’re still developing your confidence as a rider.
For this edition of The Track Report, Tiaan and I attended Suzuki’s Rider Safety Day at Red Star Raceway. Suzuki provided me with a DL250 V-Strom for my first experience on track, while the motorcycle expo taking place alongside the event gave us plenty to explore between riding sessions.
Watch the Complete Experience
My First Time on Track
This was my first motorcycle track day, and Suzuki’s DL250 V-Strom felt like the ideal bike on which to begin.
A smaller, manageable motorcycle allowed me to concentrate on the important things: my posture, throttle control, braking, cornering lines and where I was looking.
I didn’t need to worry about controlling excessive power while simultaneously trying to understand an unfamiliar track.
The 250 gave me the opportunity to settle my nerves and focus on learning.
More Than a Conventional Track Day
Suzuki’s Rider Safety Day wasn’t about setting the fastest lap or trying to get a knee down.
The purpose was to help riders develop practical skills in a safe and controlled environment. These were skills that could later be applied on public roads, where traffic, potholes and unexpected hazards make mistakes far more dangerous.
The event also coincided with a motorcycle expo where brands, dealerships and accessory suppliers showcased some of the latest products available on the South African market.
It created an enjoyable combination of rider training, track time and motorcycle industry displays.
The Rider Briefing
Before anyone was allowed onto the circuit, we attended a detailed rider briefing.
The instructors covered subjects including:
- Correct riding posture
- Smooth throttle control
- Safe braking techniques
- Choosing an appropriate line through a corner
- Looking through the corner
- Understanding the motorcycle beneath you
- Remaining aware of other riders
The briefing wasn’t simply a list of track rules.
It explained why these techniques matter and how they can improve our safety on public roads. The track provided a controlled environment in which we could turn that theory into physical actions.
The First Session: Nerves Take Over
As you would expect from someone riding on a circuit for the first time, I was extremely nervous.
Knowing that everyone in my group was also new or relatively inexperienced helped, but it didn’t make the first few corners any less intimidating.
I was tense and upright, and my riding felt more stop-start than smooth. I was concentrating so hard on every individual action that it was difficult to put everything together.
What surprised me most was how the lessons from the briefing began returning to me while I was riding.
The theory started becoming practical.
I remembered to look through the corners, control the throttle smoothly and think about my body position. By my second lap, my nerves had started settling and I was finally able to enjoy the experience.
How a Track Builds Road-Riding Skills
Many people associate track riding with racing, extreme speed and lap times. Suzuki’s event demonstrated that a circuit can also be one of the safest places to develop everyday riding skills.
There are no cars pulling unexpectedly into your path. There is no oncoming traffic and there are no intersections.
Marshals can show riders where to look, which lines to follow and how to position their bodies. The same principles can then be applied when riding through mountain passes or dealing with corners on normal roads.
The main difference is that the track gives you room to practise repeatedly.
As Suzuki South Africa’s Kyle explained, time in the saddle is essential. The more time you spend behind the handlebars, the better you understand what the motorcycle is doing beneath you.
That familiarity helps you respond calmly instead of panicking when something unexpected happens.
Round Two: Everything Began to Make Sense
My second session felt significantly better.
I had more confidence, my throttle control became smoother and the riding felt less stop-start. Instead of approaching every corner as an entirely new problem, I could begin connecting the sections of the circuit.
For a brief moment, I honestly felt like Brad Binder.
Then I watched the footage and realised I was closer to the definition of slow and steady.
That didn’t matter. I wasn’t there to race anyone.
The important part was that I could feel myself improving. I was more relaxed, I trusted the motorcycle more and I began to understand why people love riding on a racetrack.
There is an undeniable rush from being on the circuit—even when you aren’t chasing a competitive lap time.
Choosing a Safe First Helmet
Between track sessions, Tiaan spoke to Mark at the expo about the HJC i80 and what new riders should consider when purchasing a helmet.
New riders often spend most of their available budget on the motorcycle and then choose the cheapest helmet they can find. That may save money initially, but a helmet is one area where safety standards and correct fit should take priority.
The HJC i80 is an adventure-style modular helmet with a removable peak. Removing the peak converts it into a more conventional flip-up helmet, giving riders two configurations in one product.
Features discussed included:
- ECE 22.06 safety certification
- P/J homologation for use with the chin bar open or closed
- An internal sun visor
- Adjustable sun-visor positioning
- Two front ventilation points
- A Pinlock anti-fog insert
- Replaceable cheek pads
- Optional tinted outer visors
- A lockable chin-bar mechanism
At the time of filming, the helmet retailed for approximately R4,000.
Mark also explained that replacement cheek pads can extend the usable life of a helmet’s interior. As the padding compresses or becomes worn, replacing it can restore a secure and comfortable fit.
The discussion reinforced an important point: your helmet should meet a recognised safety standard, fit correctly and suit the type of riding you intend to do.
The Purpose of Suzuki’s Safety Day
Tiaan also spoke to Kyle from Suzuki South Africa about the reason behind the event.
The aim wasn’t to teach everyone how to race. It was to make riders more vigilant, more comfortable on their motorcycles and better prepared for situations they encounter on public roads.
Speed changes how quickly a hazard develops.
If a vehicle pulls into the road while a motorcycle is travelling well above the speed limit, the rider has far less time to react. Although motorists don’t always notice motorcycles, riders also need to accept responsibility for their speed, awareness and positioning.
The skills practised on the circuit—vision, body positioning, braking and smooth control—help riders manage those situations more effectively.
Suzuki designed the course so that riders could learn in the classroom and then immediately practise those lessons in a controlled environment.
Safety Before Speed
Another important message from the day was to dress for the fall.
Protective equipment plays a vital role regardless of a rider’s speed or experience level. A rider-safety event must therefore address both riding technique and the equipment that protects us when things go wrong.
The atmosphere at Suzuki’s event made it clear that improvement was more important than competition.
Nobody expected new riders to produce fast lap times. The objective was to become smooth, comfortable and consistent.
Kyle could see a difference in my riding as the day progressed. During my first session, I was stiff and upright. With repetition, I started leaning more naturally and became increasingly comfortable through the corners.
My throttle control still needed work, but the improvement between the first and final sessions was visible.
Making Rider Training Accessible
Suzuki’s event was also structured to make track-based rider training accessible.
According to Kyle, the intention was not to generate a profit. A portion of the entry fee went towards hosting the event at Red Star Raceway, with the remaining funds supporting CanSA and the CMA Rider Academy.
The CMA Rider Academy helps people who have never ridden before learn the basic skills needed to begin motorcycling safely. Suzuki’s Rider Safety Day then provides a logical next step for riders who want to continue developing their abilities.
That approach creates a pathway from first learning to operate a motorcycle to becoming a more confident and safety-conscious road rider.
My Confidence Grew with Every Session
The biggest thing I took away from the day was how much my confidence improved with each session.
During the first outing, I was nervous, tense and jittery.
The second session felt better, and the third was better again. Every lap gave me another opportunity to practise the same techniques and become more comfortable with the motorcycle.
By the end of the day, I felt much more confident about handling a bike and approaching corners.
My riding is certainly not where I ultimately want it to be, but it was considerably better than it had been at 08:00 that morning.
That visible improvement is exactly why I would attend more sessions like this.
Why New Riders Should Consider a Track-Based Safety Day
A rider-safety track day gives new and developing riders something that public roads cannot: a controlled place to practise.
It allows you to work on:
- Looking through corners
- Selecting safer riding lines
- Smoothly applying the throttle
- Braking with greater confidence
- Improving your body position
- Understanding how the motorcycle responds
- Becoming comfortable with leaning
- Remaining calm when a corner feels unfamiliar
You don’t need to own a superbike or consider yourself a fast rider.
You simply need to arrive willing to learn.
Final Thoughts
My first track experience wasn’t about speed. It was about learning, repetition and confidence.
The DL250 V-Strom gave me a manageable platform on which to practise, while Suzuki’s instructors created an environment where new riders could develop without pressure.
I started the day nervous and uncertain. By the final session, I was smoother, more relaxed and far more confident in my ability to handle a motorcycle through corners.
The day also showed me that track-based training isn’t reserved for racers. It can make ordinary riders safer and more capable on the roads we use every day.
I would absolutely attend another rider-safety day—not to chase a lap time, but to continue building my confidence and improving my skills.
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