Hi Sean,

Just thought I'd drop you a quick line to say a huge thank you to Dave, Pete and yourself, for getting me through my Direct Access course last week. I can honestly say that it really was worth every penny.... not necessarily something that you get to say a lot these days!

I had looked at several places for doing my Direct Access course and am hugely glad that I chose to train with you guys. It was clear from the beginning of Day 1 that you are not just about getting people through their test, you are clearly above all committed to producing a rider who is safe. I was immensely impressed with your safety ethos throughout the course, and the facilities that you have for learning to ride help in no small way with this.

I still struggle to imagine how a 'normal' school would be able to teach you to ride in such a safe manner. All the other schools I looked at seemed to take initial training in either school tennis courts or car parks. Quite how you are supposed to get up to any meaningful speed or practice cornering before going out on the road when stuck in the confines of such a small area I'll never know. With you guys though, none of this was ever going to be a problem. The vast paddock training area that you have at Mallory is fantastic for the job of learning the basics and getting up to a reasonable speed. The gradients and differing surfaces available all mean that you get to experience these before ever venturing near a public road..... something I really wouldn't have felt comfortable with if I'd only been riding round school tennis courts.

The track time was also absolutely invaluable before venturing out on the road. The fact that you teach emergency stops from realistic 60 to 70 mph speeds, and make sure that we are able to get a big bike round a corner properly using counter-steering is I believe a massive boost to safety. I really cannot fathom how a school can in good conscience let you out on the road on a big bike without having taught these skills, to my mind it's just not safe. I very quickly realised that counter-steering isn't an 'advanced' subject, it's an absolute necessity from Day 1 when doing much over 30mph on anything much bigger than a push bike!

The fact that we were able to ride with different instructors was also hugely beneficial. Yourself, Dave and Pete all have slightly different styles which provided us with access to more years of knowledge and experience than one rider could hope to get in a lifetime. I'd also like to say thanks for the patience that you all showed during the course, each taking time to explain the finer points of riding technique, and make sure that we were completely happy with what we were doing before moving on. You didn't even take the piss too much when I was hunting round for where I'd put my helmet, only to have Dave point out that it was on my head already. I honestly thought he was going to have a hernia he was laughing so much!.... who'd have known a helmet could be so comfortable that you'd forget you had it on (....it was a long day!!).

I have to admit to being a little nervous before I started the course, but you guys ensured that quickly passed as the course progressed. When it came time to move out onto the public roads, thanks to the skills you'd instilled in us, I was able to do so confident in my ability to control the bike properly and safely. I still can't quite believe that I turned up on the Monday having never ridden a motorbike and then confidently passed my test on the Thursday, just 4 days later. I'll definitely be back for the advanced cornering course! In the mean time, be assured, if I find anyone who is looking to learn to ride I will certainly be pointing them in your direction.

Once again many thanks for such a great course.

Best wishes, and safe riding,

Dear Sean,

I would like to start with a massive thanks to Sean and his team for the best introduction to the world of motorcycling I could have had. As a father of 2 I had major concerns about even getting on a motorcycle for the first time with all the statistics that I have read about. However the training provided was second to none.

By being given the opportunity to learn the finer skills of riding a bike on track prior to going out on the road not only gave me the confidence in riding a bike correctly with the use of counter steering, but provided the perfect environment to practice emergency braking skills in a safe manner.

Having passed my test first time with circuit based training, it is inconceivable to me that people would want to go down the standard route of training in a car park, followed by a road ride and feel that they have the skills to ride on today’s roads with all the hazards they present. To this end I have bought a race rep 600 as a first bike and feel totally comfortable on it even with my limited experience.

This I can only put down to the training I have received and have already booked myself onto the advanced cornering day. Thanks again.

I wanted to write to say a big thank you for putting me through my paces on CBT, DAS course, Advanced Cornering Course and finally giving me the skills required to pass my test - even though it took two attempts!

In total I spent seven days with you guys and I have to say they were frustrating, absorbing, challenging, enjoyable, but above all made me feel safe on a bike. That was not a small achievement as having had two serious car accidents (neither my fault) I was not convinced I would ever be confident enough to ride a bike off road, let alone on a public highway. You got me confident enough to ride at 70mph on a dual carriageway, 80mph on the track (bit girlie) and pass my test.

Prior to my days with you my biking experience was limited to riding a moped to school 24 years ago and riding pillion on the back of my husband - twice only - as I was convinced I would die! Years have gone by and my partner recently passed his test, got the biking bug and talked me into doing the test so we could go touring around the UK and Europe. I half believed that I would sit on a bike say it wasn’t for me and leave. I spent a lot of time on the internet and thought the idea of training on the circuit before attempting the public highway was awesome. The only concern I had was the extra cost but decided that my life was worth more than an extra few hundred pounds.

You all know that I found day one very difficult and felt out of my depth - track time very hard and counter steering totally bizarre. Being the only one without a CBT certificate was daunting and even harder being the token woman on the course. The other students were great guys and quickly made me realise that their CBT certificates were not worth the paper they were written on and that they still had a lot to learn as their skills limited. You did not issue my certificate until you were totally comfortable with my riding ability. Day two arrived and Dave took me on the track for some intensive tuition and something finally clicked. Not before time I hear Dave saying as he reads this! Before I knew it I was out on the roads of Nuneaton with a bit of confidence! Unfortunately, I failed my test on the Thursday by being a total idiot and missing the correct exit on the roundabout. I was gutted that I failed as by then I was starting to believe I could and would be safe on the road and riding back actually felt like a biker!

I booked a re-test and signed up for the advanced cornering course which I attended two days prior to my retake. It was a thoroughly enjoyable day and I gained a phenomenal amount of confidence listening to bikers with up to twenty years experience getting the questions wrong. The look of horror on your face Sean when some said they didn’t use their front brake will stay with me forever! I will always use mine and allow myself “settle time” before entering the corner. Please forward me the sixteen points of cornering as Mark and I will put them on the garage wall and refer to them regularly. You and Tim obviously know your stuff - your complimentary teaching styles, methodology, and enthusiasm cannot fail to improve every attendees riding. Watching Tim brake into a corner at 100mph whilst counter steering and maintaining his road position was unbelievable to watch . What was more unbelievable was that I then had to have a go and found it quite easy, albeit terrifying as you had so thoroughly drummed in the correct technique- I surprised myself and managed to do it at half Tim’s speed though.

I passed my retake and walked away with only three minors, no small achievement considering it was sleeting as we walked out of the test centre and poured with rain the whole way through. I cannot express how amazed I am at the confidence you have given me and the desire to get out there on my GSXR 750! Mark and I will definitely be back to do the advanced cornering course again and the knowledge he gained has already saved his life. On the way home he had an encounter with a white van and active counter-steering saved him. He is convinced that if it had happened the day before he would have died!

It has cost me a fair amount to pass my test - was it worth it and would I pay it again? ABSOLUTELY! The old saying is 100% appropriate - “you get want you pay for”. I am now a careful but confident rider and know that I still have a lot to learn. However, you guys have equipped me with the skills required to be a SAFE rider and as you so rightly say I should still be here when you phone me in a years time! Thank you all for your patience and quite frankly one of the most enjoyable experiences I have had in a long time. See you all soon for further tuition.

Thought I would drop an email to say thanks again to you and Dave for the excellent standards of teaching you gave to me. Well worth the cash!!

Who would of thought i'd go from nervous as hell, never riden a bike before to passing 5 days later. Granted i failed my first one but only because i was a prat and left the indicator on. Second attempt, aced, 1 minor fault, QUALITY!

The days out riding were great, massive learning curve but loads of fun all the same. I left each day with more and more confidence and couldn't wait to get back each morning for another go!!!

As for the track lessons well, where do i start. Emergency stops at real speeds, on bends and counter steering, you surely can't get teachings like this at this standard anywhere else, absolutely fantastic! I have friends interested and they now have your number for the new year, recommend you guys any time!!!

Thanks again

Thanks for a fantastic 4 days! Arriving on Monday absolutely bricking it having never been on a bike before (yes even 36 year olds get nervous!), Dave soon put us all at ease. I really enjoyed the course, it wasn’t rushed, we could take things at our own pace with the luxury of being able to practice in the safety of the paddock and race track. That alone is worth the extra couple of hundred pounds, on top of which you have access to all your guys riding experience and knowledge. Dave was very patient and more than happy to spend time with me, improving my riding, it was never a case of “oh that will do, that will get you a pass, I need to move on to the next pupil” it was all about making me a good SAFE rider to the highest standard.

The main feeling I came away with after the course was obviously elation at having passed my test but I knew I was a better rider than I would have been if I had gone elsewhere. I felt you guys genuinely cared about making me and everyone else a SAFER rider.

You can show this e-mail to anyone thinking of taking lessons, I, like them no doubt, trawled the internet looking for Motorcycle training. I was very confused as there seemed to be so many choices all for around the same sort of cost, all showing pictures on their web sites of people on bikes in school yards or car parks. I then came across Circuit Based Training (Mallory) Ltd. At first glance a couple of hundred more expensive, however in reality think about it, you ride around a playground for a couple of hours getting up to 20 – 30 mph max albeit for a few seconds as there isn’t much space, do you really feel confident about going out onto the public roads with other road users? I know I wouldn’t! I loved the idea of being able to ride consistently up and down the track, increasing my speed when I was ready to do so, not because some car was right on my arse putting me under pressure, practicing emergency stops, U turns (look where you want to go – not at the kerb!) gear changes, hill starts, all away from other road users.

When we did go out on the public roads my choice of CBT as a training company was fully justified, I felt safe and wasn’t fazed by other road users, Dave had been drilling it into us all week about paying particular attention to junctions and bends, look where you want to go, look into the distance at junctions joining your road in particular look for movement of vehicles out of these junctions. An old woman “kindly” tested this for me, she pulled out across my path while I was doing 60mph, I didn’t flap as I was already monitoring her at the junction, as soon as her wheels started to move quick dab of the brake to scrub off speed and a blast of the horn to avoid a nasty accident, all done in a very calm and controlled manor thanks to the training and practice on the circuit the previous day!

Can’t wait for the advanced course to build on the solid foundations you guys have already given me.

Kind regards

Fantastic course and even better instructors, I'm glad i picked you guys over the rest and was definately worth the money. I now feel so much more confident, controlled and safer on the road and owe it all to you guys. Will be seeing you in the new year for an advanced course.

Regards

Sean/Dave,

Having looked at the glowing tributes to you both, there seems very little to add to their recommendations and thanks.

Having a quarter of a century away from 2 wheels I was pretty nervous on day one, but when Dave spoke the same language as me (coarse) and I knew he was happy to call me a prat if needs be I was well into it straight away. The course work was interesting (which is unusual), and the track work great.......even with Colin trying on 63 different helmets before lunch-time.

The road-work over the next 2 days was initially a little daunting but by day 2 I wished for a much faster machine.

Starting my test by turning the wrong way at the very first roundabout made me convinced I had failed, but with a paltry 3 minors I passed. I did say I was going to wait for a bike til next year but I bought a Fireblade last week and still have to tell the wife!!!!!!!!!!

You guys are worth the money (rare), and the whole package delivers exactly what it says on the tin (unique).

Power to your elbows, see you next Spring for an advanced cornering day.......can't wait.