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AndyIbbott

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Posts posted by AndyIbbott

  3. Another Lurker Coming Out Of The Woodworks...

    in School Questions/General Discussion

    Posted

    Hi KHP,

     

    Thank you for posing on the forum.

     

    Keith did come over to see us in the UK last July (well, technically, this July 2009). As of yet I am not aware what his plans are for 2010. A UK visit could be on the cards as I know he would also like to see the schools in Greece.

     

    The best Idea is to keep an eye on the UK website www.superbikeschool.co.uk and if we have any news on that it will be posted there.

     

    All the best and good to hear from you again,

     

    Andy Ibbott

  4. Staff Nicknames

    in School Questions/General Discussion

    Posted

    *SIGH*

     

    You Yanks just don't get it do you?

     

    A nickname is something that is EARNED. You just cannot go about thinking them up, it happens as a result of something mor an obsevation that all agree on (good or bad).

     

    Some people will NEVER have a nickname. I am one of them becuase I have a unique surname. My son Kit will never have one becuase of his unique first and second name.

     

    :rolleyes:

     

    Andy 'Idiot' Ibbott

  5. Silverstone (stowe Circuit) ?

    in School Questions/General Discussion

    Posted

    Hi There,

     

    We do not have any video I can show you as for this next school we are running nthe circuit the opposite way! It is the only circuit in the country that we can do this so I thought we would give it a go.

     

    Don't worry, you will have plenty of time to learn the techniques which will help you leasrn the circuit.

     

    All the best

     

    Andy

  10. Earplugs?

    in Cornering and Techniques

    Posted

    I have the custom made ones too. I have them to filter all noise as I use them when riding but also when coaching at the MotoGP and other races. Would not be without them and wished I had some when I first started to ride, a few decades ago now!

  12. How Do You Guys Rate Frank Thomas?

    in School Questions/General Discussion

    Posted

    Hi F4,

     

    You are quite right, a bit more specific info would be helpful regarding the leathers., Andy's response was pretty brief. Since Andy is one of "my guys" I'd like to brag about him for a moment, as he has some unique experience:

     

    He came to the Superbike School as a journalist 13-14 years ago, working for FASTBIKES magazine at the time. He has continued as a journalist, but he also started the European branch of the Superbike School, and is still the School Director (one of the only coaches in the world to achieve Class IV in our training program). In addition to that he has personally coached Thomas Luthi to a world championship (125 GP), ridden 500 GP bikes, interviewed Rossi, pretty much eats, sleeps, breathes riding and racing. Any time I want to get info on European gear, he is the guy I ask. He's also the author of his own book, Performance Riding Techniques.

     

    How about if we see if we can get him to elaborate a bit more on what he knows about the different leather manufacturers.

     

    Andy--without asking for a nauseastingly detailed description, can you give some specifics on say what you know about A-star, and their quality?

     

    Best,

    CF

     

     

    Hi all,

     

    First off, and this typically English, thank you for the CV Cobie! LOL

     

    In is not strictly true that you cannot get the same stuff that the GP get. For a start Astars have a made to measure service so you can get EXACTLY what the GP guys wear. It is s very expensive service but you will get the same. As far as the leathers are concerned, the ONLY difference between the GP riders and buy from the shop is the sizing. The leather, the armour, all of it is exactly the same.

     

    Yes, from time to time they will use the GP and WSB guys to try something new, the neck airbag from Dainese is a good example of this. As this is the top level then it is used as a test bed. Interestingly, again Astars, they have even used and are using body position datalogging to see how the rider moves on the bike and then researching different materials and cuts, designs to see if they can make the suits more comfortable.

     

    We are very lucky here to have been sponsored by Alpinestars for over 14 years and I personally was part of the testing of their very first suits over 10 years ago. I also in the time had a set of Frank Thomas. At that time I can tell you with 100% conviction that what I had definitely WAS NOT what you could buy in the shops, so I do know this happens. Once I found this out I refused to where their leathers in Fast Bikes magazine anymore.

     

    So, you could say I favour Astars. YES I DO. I have seen how and what they do, used, tested and still use their products. I have, in the past, done the same with Frank Thomas.

     

    And finally, for the record, when I was a test rider at MCN I used Dainese a lot. They were good leathers as they did a great job in protecting you in a crash, a situation when testing I did do. The downside was they were 'one crash' and needed to be replaced after most crashes. That said, I walked away each time...

     

     

     

    All the best

     

    Andy

  13. How Do You Guys Rate Frank Thomas?

    in School Questions/General Discussion

    Posted

    Andy you say that "They are not in the same league as Aplinestars or Dainese". How so? They both use about 1.2mm-1.4mm leather. How can there be that much difference to not be in the same league? Because they dont advertise and sponsor as much? Thats a big part of what your paying for when you "get what you pay for".

     

     

    You are asking mfor my opinion and I have given it.

     

    I am sorry if it is not what you wanted to hear. Both Astar ad Dainese put a massive amount of money into research and I have visited the R&D deptments of both companies. Frank Thomas do not have this same ability and commitment that I have seen from the other two.

     

    If you are asking if I would put my own money on the table to buy Frank Thomas then the answer is no. I do not feel as confident in their product as I do say Aplinestars.

     

    Andy

  14. ...........

    in School Questions/General Discussion

    Posted

    New to the forum and fairly new to biking.Can you still attend the school with a Restricted License (33bhp)? I want to attend level 1 at silverstone next year on an SV650s K5. Thanks

     

    Hi there,

     

    Yes you can but only on your own 33bhp bike. We cannot Hire you an R6 becuase it is well over the 33bhp limit. I would advise because of this that you look at booking Silverstone Stowe as it is a short track and the 33bhp will not be noticed as much as on more open 'faster' tracks.

     

    Andy

  16. ...........

    in School Questions/General Discussion

    Posted

    But the strange loophole is if you have an ACU racing Licence. We can then take this as an accepted licence - provided - the rider has some racing experience. In this case we can take racers as young as 12 but only at ROCKINGHAM and SILVERSTONE. Brands Hatch, Oulton Park, Snetterton and Cadwell Park (all owned b the same group) insist on 18 years plus a full licence A1.

     

    The pisser is that this group who own all these track also OWNS AND RUNS the British Superbike Series where they have 12 year old racing in their 125 class, but will not let them on track days or schools to get practise. How f*&%ed up is that?

  19. Superbike School - Uk

    in School Questions/General Discussion

    Posted

    Hi Guys,

     

    I am glad you liked the show. However, just to cover off a point here, the Pick Up Drill (Last drill of Level 2) does not work because you are getting the bike onto a larger part of the tyre...

     

    ...for the FULL explaination on how it works...

     

    ...you will need to come to the school!

     

    All the best

     

    Andy Ibbott

    School Director

    Europe, Middle East, South Africa.

  21. Young Rider Query

    in School Questions/General Discussion

    Posted

    The laws in the Uk differ quite a lot from other countries when it comes to riding on the track and on the road!

     

    Track Riding/Track Days

    You can start racing on track at the age of 12, but only at races. getting practice time outside of a race meeting is nearly impossible.

    Once you have an ACU race licence you can attend the California Superbike Schools BUT only at Silvestone and Rockingham.

    MSV, who run Brands, Oulton, Cadwel Park and Snetterton will not allow racers on normal tack days unless they also hold a FULL road motorcycle licence and you are over 18.

     

     

    Road riding

    You can start on the road at 16. You can ride a 50cc restricted bike or scooter.

    At 17 you can move up to a 125, again restricted

    At 18 you can get a restricted full licence that allows you to ride up to 600cc BUT restricted to 33BHP for 2 years MOST RACK DAY OPERATORS WILL NOT LET |YOU RIDE WITHA RESTRICTED LICENCE!

    At 21 (if you have a full car licence) you can take a direct access course and when you pass you can ride anything you want.

     

    Andy

  22. Young Rider Query

    in School Questions/General Discussion

    Posted

    I'm currently 19 years old and riding an old Yamaha YB100 (with an astonishing 8.6hp) daily but I am looking to pass my full test and progress. Unfortunately (and please correct me if I'm wrong!), the law states that even if I pass my full test, I'm limited to 33hp until my 21st birthday. If I were to pass my full test before my 21st birthday, would there be any point in me attending the school? I understand that it is not a track day and speed is not everything but I could understand there being some insurance issues or something like that.

     

    Hi,

     

    You are correct with what the law says. As far as the school is concerned this would mean that you could only doa school at Silverstone Stowe circuit and it would have to be on a bike with 33bhp, sorry but we cannot allow you to use the YB100.

     

    All the best

     

    Andy Ibbott

    School Director (Europe)

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