My story
I rode motorcycles on the road for just over 20 years before taking my first ride on a race track. A bucket list item for me as a youth, I had to wait until I was 39 years old to experience riding on the race track. I’m now 44, still having a blast on the track: having fun, meeting new friends, feeling challenged, and constantly learning.
My first track day in August of 2017 was riding a 1998 Honda VFR sport touring bike equipped with no special parts other than a used pair of sport touring tires. I rode this bike and the tires all the way through the upper ranks of intermediate before switching to a 2018 R6.
The point is you don’t need a fancy race bike to ride your first track day. I’ve seen Harleys, BMW adventure bikes to various sportbikes from the 90s. Each of these riders having a blast, excited to be on the track.
You just need some safety gear, a sound motorcycle, and an idea of what you’re getting into. This is the reason I wrote this guide. To help others achieve their bucket list item, not be stressed out, and have fun making memories to last a lifetime.
Since that summer day in 2017, I’ve clawed my way into advanced groups, I’m not the fastest guy out there by any means, but I’m in constant learning mode, helping others when I can and enjoying every moment.
I’ve ridden with a few different track organizations and learned a ton by logging seat time and attending motorcycle clinics with MotoVid, and California Super Bike School.
I created this site to share my experiences of what to bring to the track, how to mentally prepare for a track day, and some tips and tricks for your first time out.
Treating it sort of like a journal for me to reflect on, share what I'm going through, and hopefully help somebody out.
Wes Burke
#98 Yamaha R6
