Freddie Spencer's High Performance Riding School

www.fastfreddie.com
888-672-7219

Class: Superbikes

Who Runs It: Freddie Spencer, a three-time world Grand Prix Champion (in the 500 cc class) and the only rider to hold simultaneous titles in both the 250 and 500 GP class. He is a scholar of the bike, of technique, of technology, and he worked closely with engineers to develop the Honda race bikes. That thoughtfulness is at the core of the school. World champion Nicky Hayden has been known to turn up in a class for a few refresher drills.

Where It Is: Las Vegas Motor Speedway and Miller Motorsports Park in Utah

What You Ride: Honda CBR600RR

What You Learn: The bike you ride after 20 laps is not the bike you rode on your first lap. Spencer focuses on the skills that preserve both tires and rider. Respect your contact patch, where the rubber meets the road. Be smooth and let the bike do its thing without thrashing around like a rodeo mount. The exercises start small, like running cones to learn how slight "maintenance" throttling improves handling, and build up to the delicacy of two-finger braking. Spencer shows how stray tension -- which could be caused by supporting your weight on your forearms -- directly affects handling. You learn to ride with your arms relaxed and push the handlebar forward (not down) to initiate counter-steering. Spencer breaks the course into sections, and teaches one drill per section. On the second day, after a night spent visualizing the track, you pull them together.

Crux Move: Trail braking. Most riders come into the school with the notion that the correct cornering sequence is "Brake. Turn. Drive." Spencer teaches you to brake all the way through the turn, because lightly maintaining contact with the disc brake keeps the bike level. You don't want the front forks rebounding just as you ask the front tire to negotiate a turn.

Cost: The two-day Sport Rider/Street Rider Level 1 course costs $2,295; the three-day course is $2,900. Pro school costs the same as the street course.

Photos: Studio819, Brandon Bones Photography