Martin Hopp Better Rider Training Day - Cadwell Park

On the 9th September, I attended the Martin Hopp Better Rider Training Day at Cadwell Park. The photos taken on the day arrived recently and I've finally had a chance to sort through them and get the day written up for you.

But first, a bit of background info. Martin Hopp is a qualified instructor at Der Nurburgring and also holds the RoSPA National Diploma as a Qualified Instructor of Advanced Motorcycling. In 2001, Martin and his son, Richard, formed Hopp Rider Training and they have a team of instructors who range from IAM Senior Observers and RoSPA Tutors and Instructors to flat track racers and road racers to motocross, trials and endurance riders.

On the day that I went on, we had seven 30-minute sessions on the track at Cadwell with 4 sessions in the morning with an instructor in a mini group of about 5 people and then 3 sessions in the afternoon which were more open with free lapping.

1st session out, coming out of Barn corner

Just before entering the Mountain

In one of the sunnier afternoon sessions

Heading to the apex of Mansfield

The day is for anyone whether you've never ridden on a track before in your life or you're an experienced rider and speaking to people there who have gone almost every year since HRT started, they always learn something and take something away from the day to help them ride as a progressive rider. The day is also done in road bikes so nobody is on slicks or anything like that and that means you get a great range of bikes from small SV650s like mine to bigger bikes such as 1200 GSs.

I found the whole day really enjoyable and I definitely feel like I learnt a lot and was getting faster and faster during the sessions. If anyone wants to know more about the Martin Hopp days, I will leave a link here for you to have a look at.

If you're nervous about going on a day like this, thinking everyone will be massively experienced or you don't think you'll be fast enough for the track, do not worry because it isn't like that at all! Everybody is there to learn how to be a better on-road, progressive rider which comes with being able to correctly read the road and the corners and adjust your speed accordingly.

I'm going to leave this is as a pretty short post after the lengthy Ireland Tour Diary but if you want any more info on the HRT days, feel free to get in contact via email or Twitter.

Until then, ride safe
TFB