After a 14 year break from biking I went out and purchased a shinny new Kawasaki ZX6R. After riding it back from Nottingham I realised that it was a far cry from my old Honda 400/4 and maybe, just maybe I needed a refresher course. My other half Sally-Ann and younger brother Kev were in the process of learning with Ade and Maria at Alpha, so I booked a Refresher day.

Training Day One:

Rain, rain and more rain. When I arrived at Alpha and after the normal friendly long chat it was agreed that I would do half a day on the pad and then do the road half latter when the sun was shinning. Ade was fantastic at showing me the way to control my bike at slow speeds by shifting my weight, a bit of back brake and feathering the clutch. Sport bikes can be unstable at slow speeds and you can look a real prat if you arrive at a bike meet with both feet down, but after a day with Ade on the pad I could arrive in style.

Training Day Two:

Sally-Ann had passed a week ago and Kev had passed in the morning, now it was my time. The pressure was on as Kev was going out on the back of Ade’s Pan, so I couldn’t show myself up in front of my Bro. We took to the roads with Ade behind so he could observe my riding styles, we had had a pre ride talk on chasing the arrows, counter steering and bike control. After about 5 miles we swapped positions and Ade was off with Kev on the back. I was shocked, how could that old Pan leave my new ZX6 behind, but this is what Ade wanted. Looking at Ade’s lines soon allowed me to corner faster and safer than before, I was soon at one with the bike, riding it and not fighting it.

I have now left the road and taken up racing, no police, no cars and no speed cameras, but the skills I learnt with Alpha are now put to the extreme on the track.

Out of all the biking bits I purchase in the first year back biking, the Alpha refresher course was the best money spent. I would recommend all born again bikers to visit Ade and Maria at Alpha.

Thanks a million,"

Wayne Kenward.
KJ Racing.