2014 MRA Race School a Monumental Success!
Denver, CO April 22, 2014
During this past weekend the MRA put on their annual new rider race school. Complimented with warm and sunny Colorado weather, the turnout was an incredible! 48 students participated in the Friday evening classroom at Fay Myers Motorcycle World on April 18th and the on-track instruction Saturday at High Plains Raceway. All but one successfully completed the school. Of those 48, 6 of were women, some of which are planning on participating in the full 7 Round MRA series. The diversity of riders who participated in the school was phenomenal, including 12-year-old Sean Thomas ripping around the corners on his Honda RS125. The shared excitement and comradely could clearly be seen in the smiles and faces of the students. For all it was a successful event. Looking around the paddock, you would have been hard pressed to believe it was a pre-season race school due to such a competitive group and turnout that represented a final round lapping day.
Jeff Brown, the MRA’s New Rider Director and organizer of the school, managed the event in its entirety, and provided the highest quality program possible. Well prepared students proceeded through tech inspection with only a few minor hiccups that were resolved before the track was hot. The on-track instruction consisted of a one on one learning experience for students with their designated instructor. Open lapping sessions targeted proper race technique including good body position, correct race line instruction, trail braking, and a multitude of other tasks that instructors constantly reiterated. After open lapping instruction, launch drills, and trail braking drills, all of the students gridded up for a five-lap mock race.
All the instructors volunteered their time, tires, fuel, and travel expenses to support the program and teach the future road racers. In addition, the MRA Board of Directors, staff and safety crew also traveled to support the event. The large turnout is attributed to a road racing club that has worked hard to bring in new talented riders by getting the doors open early and keeping them open late, in order to fulfill the needs of its members and customers.
The MRA also put on its first ever “Intro to Road Racing Clinic” recently that was geared towards touching on specific topics to educate new riders about becoming a successful road racer, or proficient track day and street rider. The lure of the MRA’s very successful Super Street Program has also contributed substantially by providing a chance for street riders to get a taste of road racing without having to transform their street bike in to a full track prepped machine.
In the end students and instructors left with a greater appreciation for the sport and the MRA with its family-like atmosphere. If you would like to become a part of the MRA family and the great sport of motorcycle road racing but don’t know where to start, please contact MRA Rider Director Jeff Brown at (303) 210-0425 or [email protected] .
The Motorcycle Roadracing Association is 501(c)(7) non-profit organization dedicated to promoting safe and competitive motorcycle road racing events for enthusiasts in Colorado and the surrounding area. For more information, go to http://www.mra-racing.org. Follow us at http://www.facebook.com/MotorcycleRoadracingAssociation and https://twitter.com/MRA_Racing!