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Riding superbikes on the Buddh circuit: A dream come true!

14th July 2021, 11:52 by Rahul Nagaraj

It was a breathtakingly fun-filled experience of a lifetime, which I'm sure each one of us will cherish.

BHPian Amey Kulkarni recently shared this with other enthusiasts.

What can an auto enthusiast's dream be? Drive / Ride full throttle and soak in that adrenaline with lesser things to worry around isn't it? And that's what track allows one to do. Worry less about the traffic, traffic rules and let go of your inner beast around a circuit which can squeeze out all the juices you have in a matter of few sessions.

And with no different thoughts, MonaroCV8, Vinay (fellow rider, Non-BHPian) and myself decided to take on the track at Greater Noida very famously called as the Buddh International Circuit (BIC) on our Litre class superbikes.

There is no reason and logic behind why one should ever participate in a track day is there? So the thought was very clear and predefined that track days are going to come at some point in time. However, it is not that easy as it seems. A newbie at riding can be vulnerable on a track for himself and as well as others.

With an experience over 5 years of riding on the road solo / group on big bikes; we knew we had enough experience to enter track sessions.

As an alignment, we had predefined that if we're spending so much money we would only do the best and the largest track of India which is BIC.

There are quite a few Training schools in India who offer 2-3 day sessions at tracks. The well-known being - CSS, RACR, Apex and ISBK.

The training schools would have their own standard curriculums including theory lectures and track sessions and categorized by Level 1, Level 2 so on and so forth. Level 1 being the starting point.

There are well known tracks where the aforementioned trainings schools schedule sessions around the year barring the current pandemic. viz Kari Motor Speedway, Madras Motor Race Track and Buddh International Circuit.

Kari Motor Speedway: Located at Coimbatore, Track's length is 2.2 km

Madras Motor Race Track: Located at Chennai, Track's length is 3.717 km

Buddh International Circuit: Located at Greater Noida, Track's length is 5.14 km

The Planning:

The dates of the track sessions are very notorious in the sense that you get a very short notice to participate in them considering you have limited slots.

Similarly, we got a short window to participate at BIC track sessions arranged by ISBK racing on 13th and 14th March' 2021.

Below are the major cost drivers involved while planning a track day with your own superbike:

Training school fee: Level 1 and Level 2 for ISBK were Rs 42,000 for two days which includes theory and practical sessions under the professional coaches and refreshments.
Bike Transportation Charges: Rs 20,000 roughly per Superbike from Pune to BIC and back.
Bike Transit Insurance: It is important to have a Zero Dep insurance policy for your bike and this transit insurance would vary as per IDV value of each bike and applicable if your master policy does not include the same. We did not opt for it as the transport provider was a known chap.
Bike's Track Insurance: This insurance would cover any damages which happen at the track if your master policy does not cover track days. We did not opt for it. We did not opt for it as we had less time.
Rider's Medical track Insurance: This insurance would cover any medical treatments if a rider has to undergo if the master policy does not cover adventure sports. We did not opt for it as we had less time.

Costs for the Superbike readiness for the track day:

Service: If the bike has done over 4 - 5K Km on the road, it is recommended that you get your Air Filter, Oil Filter and Engine Oil replaced so that your bike performs the best when you need it.
Tyres: If the tyres are road tyres, you may want to upgrade the tyres to track tyres or slicks. The pair could roughly cost you around INR 45K and upwards.
Brake Pads: Brakes are very important while going on a track and at the same time you don't want to end up finishing your brake pads. It is recommended to get a new pair installed before the track day.
General Check-up: If the bike doesn't need service, a general check-up from the ASC is good to have so that there are lesser chances of failures at the track. You don't want to sit in the pits with a break-down after spending so much of money.

Requirements of Protective Gear / Apparels to attend a Track day:

Helmet: A snug fit helmet which has basic certifications like DOT, SNELL etc.
Leather Suit: One-piece or a Two piece which can be zipped at the waist. Although you may want to confirm with the training school on what they would allow.
Gloves: Full gauntlets are compulsory considering the wrists are also required to be protected in case of a crash.
Shoes: Full length boots are compulsory considering entire protection up to the shin.
Ear Plugs: Often missed by riders and are a must have if you have a track helmet which are super noisy at high speeds.
Dry-fit Inners: You don't want to be sweating it out through-out the day. Dry fits inners are a must have.

Others:

Jerry Cans: Might cost few bucks but very important if you don't want to rely on the petrol provided at the track.
Photographer / Videographer: There are professional guys who would approach you and charge for the two days and create a portfolio which you can cherish all your life.