Motorcycle Track Days
A Beginner's Guide to Motorcycle Track Days
What happens on a bike track day, which group to book, the leathers and kit organisers require, bike prep, licence rules and example UK costs.
On a bike track day you ride your own motorcycle, or a hired one, on a closed race circuit, in a group matched to your pace. To ride you need full leathers, a back protector, an approved full-face helmet, proper boots and gloves, plus a bike with taped or removed mirrors and a front brake lever guard if your organiser requires one. For a first day, book the lowest group, go to every briefing and use the free instruction if it is offered.
This guide is part of our motorcycle track days hub.
Key takeaways- Book the novice or lower group on your first day; booking the wrong group can cost you your place without a refund.- Leathers must be one-piece or a two-piece with a zip right round the waist.- A back protector is compulsory with some organisers, and can often be hired.- No Limits does not run timing at its UK track days: the aim is track time, not lap times.
What happens on a track day: the timetable
Times differ by circuit and organiser, so check your confirmation. This is how No Limits Trackdays describes a typical UK day.
Some circuits run a dedicated first-timer format instead. Knockhill, for example, offers a Newcomers & First Timers day with pit lane help.
| Time | What happens | Fact |
|---|---|---|
| Before the day | Register online and watch the online safety briefing within 24 hours of the event | – |
| 7:00am | Arrive to get a pit garage, where the circuit has them | – |
| 7:30-8:30am | Sign-on: licence check, group wristband and bike sticker; noise test before riding | – |
| About 8:40am | Compulsory safety briefing, then a separate briefing for the lower group | – |
| From 9:00am | Each group takes 2 sighting laps, then rides 20-minute sessions in turn | – |
| About 1:00-2:00pm | Lunch | – |
| 5:00pm | Track closes | – |
Which group to book
Groups keep riders of similar pace together. No Limits defines three:
Be honest when you choose. If you book an unsuitable group, the organiser can remove you without a refund or credit. Open pitlane days, where you ride whenever you like, are aimed at intermediate and advanced riders at circuits such as Knockhill.
| Group | Who it is for |
|---|---|
| Lower (novice) | First time on track, little track experience, or a steady pace |
| Middle (intermediate) | More track experience and a quicker pace than the lower group |
| Advanced | Experienced track riders, higher speeds, or race experience |
What to wear: the kit checklist
Kit rules are where most first-timers get caught out. The rules below come from one UK organiser and one US organiser; yours may differ, so read its rules before you book.
Many organisers do not accept textile suits, as Rider Magazine's first-track-day kit guide notes. Wear long, moisture-wicking base layers underneath: they cut chafing and make the suit easier to get on and off. Leathers are not waterproof, so pack a light rain suit that goes over them.
Choosing armour levels, an airbag or a hump for your suit? See hump, airbag and CE level: choosing protection for a track suit.
| Item | UK example: No Limits | US example: 2Fast |
|---|---|---|
| Suit | One-piece leathers, or a two-piece with a zip that circles the torso and shows no gap when you raise your arms | One- or two-piece suit with armour; zip-together preferred |
| Back protector | Compulsory at all circuits; hire available | Not stated in the FAQ we read |
| Helmet | ACU gold-sticker or equivalent; no open-face or flip-up | Full-face DOT helmet |
| Boots | Motorcycle boots; no short or ankle boots | Leather boots over the ankle |
| Gloves | Long enough that no gap opens between glove and sleeve | Leather gauntlet gloves covering the wrist |
Getting your bike ready
You do not need a race bike, but the bike must be in good mechanical condition and track-ready. For a road bike that means a few changes.
- Mirrors: tape them up, take them off or fold them in, so you are not looking behind you.
- Speedo: tape over it and use the rev counter.
- Brake lever guard: fit one if your organiser asks; No Limits has required a front lever guard since January 2021.
- Tyre pressures: tyres run hotter on track, so pressures usually come down; ask the tyre service on the day, which may check them free on arrival.
- Noise: every circuit has its own limit, and you are tested before you ride. At Brands Hatch, for example, the Indy circuit limit is 102 dB static and 92 dB drive-by.
Do you need a licence?
At the MSV circuits (Brands Hatch, Cadwell Park, Donington Park, Oulton Park and Snetterton) a full unrestricted driving licence or an ACU road race licence is checked, and you must be over 18. Other circuits set their own rules, so check with your organiser.
What a bike track day costs
There is no single price. It depends on circuit, format, date and group.
Some hire companies also supply leathers. Our guide to motorcycle race suit rentals explains when renting makes more sense than buying.
| Item | Example price | Fact |
|---|---|---|
| Track day (half-day open pitlane, Novice/Inter, Knockhill) | £149 | – |
| Bike hire, incl. tyre warmers, wet tyres and fuel | £350 to £450 | – |
| Leather suit rental (US example, 2Fast) | $50 a day | – |
Where to ride
MSV Trackdays runs bike days at Brands Hatch, Donington Park, Cadwell Park, Oulton Park, Snetterton and Bedford Autodrome. Oulton Park alone hosts bike days most weeks of the season, with shorter evening sessions in summer. In the US, start with our guide to motorcycle track days at Sonoma Raceway.
First-day tips, by rider type
| You are | Do this |
|---|---|
| A road rider on your first day | Book the lower group and ask an instructor to ride with you early; instruction at No Limits is free and first come, first served |
| Without a track bike | Hire one and ask whether leathers can come with it |
| Without leathers | Rent for the first day, then buy once you know you will go back |
| Nervous about speed | Pick a newcomer day or a structured day over open pitlane |
Kit for your first track day
If you are buying a suit, order well ahead of your date. MotoSpeeds ships stock sizes in 10 to 15 working days, and custom sizes take 4 to 6 weeks. All four MotoSpeeds motorbike leather suits come with interchangeable CE Type A knee sliders.
Related guides
- No leathers yet? Read how motorcycle race suit rentals work.
FAQ
How much do motorbike track days cost?
It varies by circuit and format. A half-day Novice/Inter open pitlane session at Knockhill was listed at £149. Add £350 to £450 if you hire a bike.
Do I need a bike licence for track days?
At MSV circuits, yes: a full unrestricted driving licence or an ACU road race licence is checked, and riders must be over 18. Check the rules for other circuits with your organiser.
Where are UK motorbike track days held?
Circuits include Brands Hatch, Donington Park, Cadwell Park, Oulton Park, Snetterton and Bedford Autodrome, plus Knockhill in Scotland. Check each organiser's calendar for dates.
Motorcycle Leather Suit Editorial Team
Motorcycle Leather Suit articles are researched from published sources, cited in the text, and reviewed before publication.