Action photos by: Dave Smith

We all think we’re good or better still great riders. Most of us even think we’ve mastered the skills for riding a motorcycle and in turn impart that knowledge on to new riders (aka: newbie’s). Unfortunately we all have bad habits and passing those onto others is really doing more harm than good. Of course over the years we try to eliminate those bad behaviors but like it or not it’s difficult to teach an old dog new tricks (although not impossible as you'll soon find out). This is why learning and building on a good foundation of skills at the outset is so important. Taking a MSF sponsored course and going to a 2 day highly intensive riding school is a perfect way to start on a road to becoming an expert motorcyclist.

Now combine a performance riding school who can improve the 20 year veteran’s riding techniques and/or the beginner rider who only has a year’s worth of experience under their belt with a MotoGP champion and you simply have a match made in heaven. So who’s the “hired gun” you ask? Well none other than Kevin Schwantz himself.

Those that aren’t familiar with whom Kevin is then let me enlighten you. He’s a 40 something year old who tells it like it is and has enough motorcycle accolades to fill an auditorium. He amassed 25 Grand Prix wins, 21 lap records, 29 pole positions and the 1993 World Championship during his career while racing in motorcycle’s pinnacle league. To say that he’s qualified to be a motorcycle instructor would be an understatement. Who better to tell you how to approach turn 6 (Charlotte’s Web) at Barber Motorsports Park (his new home away from home) and how to adjust your body position to maximum tire traction while aboard a CBR600RR or GSX-R600 than a rider who raced around the world and won it all?

Speaking of Barber Motorsports Park, the facility is simply gorgeous. The track is pristine and measures in at 2.38 miles long, 45' wide, and 80’ of elevation change with 17 turns. If you ever wanted to race at a track that the “big boys” use, this one should be at the top of your list. Best of all after you finish blasting around the track at triple digit speeds you can slow down and take in a tour of the Barber Vintage Motorsports Museum. The collection of motorcycles on display cannot be matched and truly has something for everyone. Plus since you’re a student at the school you get a private tour of the inner sanctum (the bottom floor of the museum) which includes the machine shop, assembly area and warehouse where some of the bikes are stored.

The AMA was racing the weekend prior to me attending the school and since my arm didn't have to be twisted to hard I decided to go to those races (it was the last round of the 2010 season afterall) to get a preview of the track and the facilities. I had the pleasure of speaking to a lot of the riders and they gave me some tips-n-tricks which I duly noted. When it was my turn to lap Barber I’d be ready. As for the racing, all the classes were spectacular to watch and gave me even more reason to be chomping at the bit to get out and turn some laps on the track while hopefully improving my skills in the process.