A successful opening day of Alex Gobert’s Road Race Performance Academy took place at Wakefield Park last Wednesday, 10 September, with keen participants undergoing a new era in sportsbike training around the tight and technical circuit situated near Goulburn, NSW. The all-new riding development program launched with Gobert conducting the classroom theory sessions, giving over 25 riders a fresh new insight into sportsbike performance riding, with groups split up into Beginner, Intermediate and Advanced sessions on the day. Kicking off with a rider’s briefing and introduction, participants were soon lapping the circuit and attending the classroom theory sessions under the guidance of Gobert and the RRPA team, with many expressing their new-found confidence after learning many important riding techniques to help them become more efficient and safer riders. Special guests on the day were current Australian Superbike Championship leader Glenn Allerton, along with 2004 Australian Superbike and Supersport Champion Adam ‘Krusty’ Fergusson. Both were able to interact with the participants on the day, offering their personal hints and tips to add further to the detailed RRPA curriculum. Many important topics were covered over the six theory and riding sessions during the program, with lessons on cornering, braking, shifting, body position, throttle control, visual awareness, relaxation, preparation, fitness, safety and more. Prize packs on arrival were popular amongst participants, with each rider receiving an RRPA cap, notepad, pen, course information booklet, track map, Australian Motorcycle News stickers and Gatorade at sign-in. An awards ceremony following the program was another special occasion for the inaugural RRPA event, with each rider on hand receiving personal certificates signed by Gobert, Allerton and Fergusson. Three lucky participants were also awarded with prizes following the program, with SBK-08: Superbike World Championship video game t-shirts given to the most improved, safest and most focused classroom students. RRPA will now move on to Oran Park, NSW, on 20 October, with entries for that event beginning to flow through already. Visit the program’s official website at www.rrpa.com.au for further information and the full national calendar as events are scheduled for Victoria later this year. ALEX GOBERT: “The build up to this day has been massive and Wakefield was a truly great start to the new program. All of the RRPA team learnt a lot and we will make the necessary adjustments and continue to evolve the program as we get more experience, but I’m very proud of what we have achieved so far. Watching the participants develop from the beginning of the day to the end was great very rewarding to know that what we have been working on for so long has paid off. I can’t wait for the next event!”