We all have bucket lists. While the entries on those lists may vary greatly there is one commonality between them, which is to realize certain experiences before we stop walking this planet we call Earth. Although I still have plenty of items left on my list, there is one that can now be successfully removed. That is the chance to attend the Yamaha Champions Riding School (herein known as YCRS).

Truth be told, even if this wasn’t on my list you wouldn’t have to twist my arm very hard to ride an R6 around Las Vegas Motor Speedway (LVMS), meet and bond with fellow motorcycle enthusiasts, all the while receiving expert tutelage by some of the best instructors West of the Mississippi.

I should mention that this escapade took place at LVMS in early December as opposed to Miller Motorsports Park (MMP) because, while Utah is a beautiful state to visit (and ski in), riding around a track in freezing temperatures is not very appealing. As such the venue for YCRS changes over until the warmer weather returns and then the school heads back to Miller (April through October). Additional venues are being added so definitely visit MMP’s site for the most up to date track listing.

That said, before I knew it, it was time to get my newly procured toothbrush and mouthwash together (hey, good hygiene is a hallmark of any fast rider), pack my gear up and head on out to the airport. I flew in the night before since rider check-in was set for 8:00am in the morning. This is standard practice as even on typical track days there is a mandatory rider meeting so I find getting to the area the night before to be the best option. After a nice and easy flight I drove to the hotel and settled in for what I thought was to be a relaxing night to study the LVMS track map but unfortunately that wasn’t the case. Since this wasn’t a typical track day, the anticipation combined with excitement didn’t help me sleep much (and I wasn’t even at the casino’s drinking and gambling) but one thing was for sure – I wouldn’t be late.

Seeing the sun peek in the window made me realize that it was finally time to get a move on and make my way to LVMS. Not so shockingly, I arrived early at the track eagerly awaiting instruction. The weather couldn’t have been more perfect. Cool crisp air, temperatures in the mid 50’s and copious amounts of sunshine. Add in panoramic mountain views with fighter jet fly overs courtesy of Nellis Air Force Base and this is the way every track day should begin.

Since I’ve never been to LVMS I conducted a quick reconnaissance mission to see what it offered. The facility (owned by Speedway Motorsports, Inc. [SMI]) consists of a 1.5 mile race car track, covers over 1,000 acres, seats 131,000 people and in a word: impressive. While predominantly known for their Nascar held events they do have 2 road courses and both would be utilized for the school. Each consisted of 9 turns and the inside smaller track was run counterclockwise whereas the larger outside track clockwise.

Those that aren’t familiar with motorcycle schools tend to think they’re formulaic in nature. “Do this and not that, follow the leader, blah-blah-blah” and so on. While this is true for some, YCRS’ philosophy couldn’t be further from it. They bombard you with all types of information right from the beginning, be it body position, apex identification, throttle control, proper braking techniques, tire utilization and a whole host of other topics pertaining to riding a motorcycle using best practices. This is somewhat contradictory to conventional teaching where you’re just learning the basics (clutch-shift-throttle-brake, etc.) and not much more. YCRS’ styling of teaching works well but clearly not everything associated with riding a motorcycle can be covered in 2 or 3 days. That’s where YCRS’ graduate program comes into play. These courses aid in additional knowledge transfer of advanced riding techniques which apply directly to street riding or the track (e.g. race start procedures, passing, fitness, etc.).

YCRS is first and foremost about the instructors and the people that make up the school are where it shines. The school’s normally comprised of 5 instructors (Nick Ienatsch [lead instructor], Ken Hill, Shane “Tornado” Turpin, Dale Kieffer and Mark Schellinger), each sharing their own knowledge and experience. With a class size of 20 students or less you really get to know each of these instructors extremely well. I still hear Nick telling me to “look GP to go GP.” Add in guest instructors (AMA Supersport rider Eleyna Myers was attending this time) and you soon come to realize that this is no ordinary school but something much more than that; it's special. Speaking of guest instructors, none other than Mr. Daytona himself, Scott Russell will be at YCRS for the 2012 season.

Surprisingly almost half the class were returning students which shows the caliber of instruction and information being shared since riders see value in attending multiple schools. I can’t say that I disagree as these returning students were not only quick on the track but very knowledgeable about what it took to be fast and in control at the same time. Two key qualities to comprehend as totaling your track bike or worse, lying in a hospital bed does no one any good.