Talan

After a close call with the noise restrictions at Silverstone I have to rethink my afternoon sessions!! On a more serious note, I want to highlight how much CSS has helped me to improve. In April I went to Silverstone on my 170bhp GSXR1000K6, and could just about get around the new GP circuit in 3min35sec. On Monday I was on my 120bhp GSXR750K7 lapping at 2min50sec! The improvements have been huge, and that's all down to the lessons I've learned at CSS. Thanks to one and all who have helped me over the 2010 track day season, as it's now time for me to head off to the mountains and train for the World Championships in Disabled Skiing.

Gutted mate, though of course, you're not going to leave it like this are you? Give them pain mate. Bullet I have already contacted the other paraplegic who races motorcycle/sidecar, and will wait for the official letter to arrive before passing it on to a lawyer for appeal and possible discrimination. I am trying very hard to remain an ocean of calm! T

Just had a phone call from an ACU representative, in-fact the same representative that said I had the "green light" to go racing provided the stabilisers were modified, telling me that the ACU had decided that I wasn't going to be issued a race licence for any event that involved mass starts - ie racing on tracks. As you can imagine I am not impressed.

How much more can you learn through the CSS programme…..loads is the answer. I have just completed Level 4 at Silverstone and I’m amazed at how much more I was able to improve. The day started off with an individual programme assessment, identifying areas that needed help, then drills to target those specific areas. Each rider has their own agenda for which areas they want to improve upon, but as with most things in riding, we all seem to struggle with the usual suspects, VISION and LINE. As the sessions progressed, the on-track coach (Bullet) and Level 4 liaison coach (Badger) began to really focus in on the problems we were having and getting them corrected. For me especially, being a paraplegic added another dimension for the guys to think about, as I’m unable to move about the bike. We tried a number of different ways to help me keep the bike steady whist braking and going into the corners, some worked well whilst others were canned. The overall result was that on the final session I was riding faster, smoother, on the right line and loving every second. Well, that was up to the point where my right foot came out of the stirrup and started dragging behind me. I had to stop as I didn’t know how long it was going to take for the toe of the boot to wear out and then start grinding down my foot. There weren’t any marshals around, no Bullet, no barricades, no grass, so I spied the large gravel trap, decided it was the best place to stop and fall over into and made my way slowly over. It’s a weird feeling knowing you are about to fall over and it could hurt, but I knew it was preferable to losing my toes, as although I can’t feel them I quite like them being there! The gravel proved to be quite soft, but the bike was trapping me underneath it and the exhaust burnt through the boot and has left a large burn on my foot, at least it’s still there. Very quickly the coaches were around me, the bike lifted off, the medical services arrived and I was soon back in the pits and looking at the bike, which escaped with nothing more than a few pebble scratches. Looks like the Velcro came un-glued from the base of the boot and as I am now leaning on my knees to lock me in for turning, the pressure must have pushed them off. All in all a great day, everyone at CSS made me feel so welcomed and at ease. It made for a great learning environment and I can’t wait to come back to repeat Level 4 time and time again, as I know I can never stop learning and improving. My time spent with CSS has helped me to gain my ACU licence and I hope to complete my first race on 4th September. I just have to get my stabilizer unit approved by the ACU and we’re good to go. Once again, my thanks go to all at CSS.

Hi Eirik, many thanks for the message. I was knocked off my CBR600 and thrown under the on-coming traffic. Car wheel hit me in-between the shoulder blades shattering T4 and T5 severing the spinal cord. Then as I went under the wheels the weight broke my ribs puncturing the left lung. I was dragged down the road under the car by my helmet and broke C6 and C7 but fortunate not to have any nerve damage (1mm more movement and I'd be paralysed from the neck down). Finally came out from underneath the car and felt a bit winded! Lasted 20minutes before losing consciousness due to bleeding into right lung. Was given 30% chance of survival and expected to be in hospital for 2 years. Left hospital after 7 months - food was ###### and there were no decent looking nurses!! Just booked Level 4 for August 18th at Silverstone, so very excited about it already and re-reading Twist of Wrist II plus watching video. Yippee.

Hi, wanted to share the good news with you. Last Friday I headed up to Darley Moor for my 'on-bike' assessment to get my race licence. The stabilisers worked on the bike in the paddock area, but then failed on the track as I lined up on the start grid. We took them off, as they were damaged in the ensuing topple, as no one was nearby to catch me, and then I headed out with one of the instructors for my riding assessment. Thanks to everything I was taught on levels 1 and 2 at CSS, I was able to identify RP's within two laps and then led the instructor for a further 5 laps. He commented that the lines were spot on, my vision was always ahead, I got on the throttle evenly throughout the corner and riding was smooth. After a discussion with the ACU (Auto Cycle Union) representative, they have give me the green light to race, once I have the stabilisers fixed. This is the first time in the ACU history that a paraplegic has been awarded a solo motorcycle race licence. I hope this message gets out to other bikers who are paralysed and think that riding is not available to them, as it's not. If they want to know more, please pm me and I can pass on my contact details. I am aiming to do my first race on 4th September at Castle Combe, as it is a local circuit and I know the staff plus track well. Before I do the race I'll be doing Level 4 with CSS, so I'll be in even better shape to race. Thanks once again CSS, you are helping to change lives and make history happen. Talan

Hi Nic Yes, was there in the pouring rain on the 8th, my gortex jacket was useless so bought one of the clear rain respro jackets and stayed a lot drier. The 9th was great until the afternoon session when it poured down too. Luckily our group were in the classroom for the heaviest part of the rain! However, like you, my confidence in riding in the rain has risen right up. I know I'm riding faster as I went back to Mallory after doing the course, and on an SV650 (instead of my GSXR1000) I was lapping only 2 seconds slower! I was amazed that I could corner so fast and lap so quickly with 100bhp less, it's all down to what we were taught at CSS. I am heading back to Silverstone for Level 4 on 18th August. Am really looking forward to it, especially as I need to figure where I need to brake/release the brake to unload the front tyre, as I low-sided whilst pushing the bike (the SV650) at Castle Combe. Had a full tank of gas too, so wondering what limits I need to put on myself to prevent that happening again. Hopefully a more personal look at my riding style will bring out the best way to approach and turn in. Will you be coming back for more? Regards Talan

Just wanted to say a huge THANK YOU to all at CSS for their help and support during my two days at Silverstone. Being the only wheelie to attend, I was a bit nervous about how it was all going to pan out. Having Jet and Pinky launch and catch me at the course control point worked out really well (despite Jet having a hand in plaster!). Everyone made me feel welcome and all potential access problems were easily over-come. My track instructors Gary and Matthew were brilliant, and Andy was his legendary self for the classroom sessions. I had read Twist of the Wrist II before attending, but the actual sessions were of far greater value as it explained everything in an 'easy to understand' way. My riding became faster and smoother, we tried out a few new ideas and I'll continue developing as I practice the lessons during the coming track days. I'm sure all who have done the levels will agree that it's the best thing they've ever done to improve their riding techniques. Can't wait to do level 4 (as I think level 3 might not be suitable!). Once again, thank you so much and see you again soon.