Nicole Lynch
Nicole Lynch has some advice if you are considering taking up Motorbike racing
With the start of a new year comes the start of a new racing season. This is one of my favourite times of year because the winter season is very long, and now it’s time to start getting organised again.
Choosing a bike
It’s also the time of year where the new people come into racing, and I love this even more, especially when I see women at the training days. It’s easy to get into racing, and can be done in a few simple steps. The first step is to get your bike. There are loads of options here, most people will prefer to start on a 125 or a 300 now. These bikes are not too fast and are very beginner friendly. I recommend starting here even if you can ride a bigger bike as it teaches you certain race skills having to make a slower bike go fast, rather than not being able to use a big bike to its full potential. If you do want a slightly bigger bike I recommend a 650.
The Right Gear
Once you have your bike you need your protective equipment. A helmet, leathers, boots, glove and ideally a back and chest protector. I wear an Arai helmet, RST leathers & boots, and Knox Armour gloves, back and chest protectors. Protective equipment is expensive at first, but it’s an investment. It’s the only thing between your skin and the tarmac when you crash, and having crashed plenty of times and never come away with more than a bruise I can’t emphasize enough that it’s the most important part of racing.
Joining a racing club
With all of that out of the way, you join a racing club. There are loads of clubs based around the country and in Dublin. These can be found on the Motorcycling Ireland website www.motorcycling-ireland.com under resources. I’m a member of Fingal Motor Club who are holding their flag seminar on the 6 of February. When you join a club, to get your licence you will need to download and fill in the licence forms from the Motorcycling Ireland website, and then bring them to a club to get stamped. You will also need to complete both a flag and anti-doping seminar. These can be done either online on the website or else at a club where they will host them pre-season.
Training Day
Once the above is done, you can head to Mondello Park on Sunday 11th March for the training day, where you will do some classroom sessions first to explain the racing procedures and then will be taken onto the track and assessed for your licence. This can seem a bit daunting, but the people assessing you are there to help you, not to criticise you. To book the training day you will need to call the offices at Mondello where they will also be happy to help you.
If racing isn’t for you just yet, keep an eye out for some trackdays happening at Mondello throughout the year. Information on these can be found on facebook with a quick search of Mondello Trackdays. It’s a great way to learn riding safety skills on your bike without the dangers of traffic on the road.
If anyone is considering racing or trackdays, feel free to contact me for any more information at nicolelynchracing@gmail.com. If you’re already on the track and need more help, I’d be happy to give a dig out, just get in touch.
You can look back on all my “Life on two wheels” blog entries here and you can also follow me on Twitter , Instagram or facebook
Nicole Lynch
15th January, 2018
