THE RACE ACADEMY by Fabienne Migout

24/08/06

THE RACE ACADEMY SESSIONS 2006 IN PAU

44 Students and 16 instructors in PAU for the first session of three days.
We are 2 French instructors, LOIC DILLET and I.
Three levels divided in three groups: A, B, or C. In each group A, B or C there are different levels again called A1,A2,A3 etc..etc…
JAN and some other instructors already improved the method many times, so they organise the first groups of students.

Each rider has received a “RACE ACADEMY” technical book.

JAN organised students briefing every morning and afternoon before the start of the practising part. They had theory lessons about technic of riding, security (comportments to adopt, flags, etc…).

We also had instructors briefing twice a day to discuss the evolution of our students. Each of us explained the day objectives we gave our students, we also discuss the technic we work on, the type of exercises, etc…, etc…
Then, we decided if some of our students would feel better in another group, depending on their own progression. It gives the students very individual analyses of their needs and the best opportunity for the instructors to work on quality.

The ambiance has been very friendly; everyone was breathing the same passion and the thirst to learn; so the communication has been very good.

JAN recruited enough instructors to permit a few “one to one” sessies. This could give the confidence back in working very close to the student.

This method has never been improved in FRANCE and is for us a real “teaching with best quality”.

A mechanic assistance was also operated for tyres changing, bikes checking, suspensions adjustment if need, and any sort of mechanical problem.

“BACH” was the “2 faces man” in being the official video man and an instructor too, for an eventual “one to one” need.

In following each student with the video, BACH gave them the opportunity to understand and correct better their own mistakes.

On the last day, there was a special sessie for the students with a licence who wanted to learn about race start procedure. They had a briefing and then 2 following start procedure with flags.
Then, all the groups went in a corner behind fences to analyse three level of student in action: position, lines with different speed, etc…etc…

Because each student was wearing a “transponder” on the bike, their progress could be checked, compared with their own feelings , analysed by themselves and the instructors too.

I have been very well surprised by the serious of our students who wanted to progress the maximum without missing a step

They totally accepted to not ride the morning when we had rain, because they did not have wet tyres.
They had great fun to come with me in a ZEUS side-car, sliding around on the track.

In the afternoon, we had the “group picture” of the RACE ACADEMY in PAU 1st session, and a little party in the evening.

LOIC and I were very happy after this very first contact with the RACE ACADEMY method of teaching.

Totally unknown by us before, but totally adopted in our RACE ACADEMY development project in FRANCE now.

 

2d SESSION…

The second session in the 7th, 8th and 9th gave the opportunity to LYDIA JEAN ( another French instructor I recruited, who race EUROPE with me) to discover the famous RACE ACADEMY and bring her superbike school experience.
As we needed, all instructors could speak English, even German!

We had this time 35 students and 13 instructors. The weather stayed with us all the three days this time.

As the first session, JAN started the groups and we evaluated on the same bases
.
I had the chance to have an exceptional student in my group, who was missing the left arm after an accident.
He had a protease to clip on the handle bar. The other students learned a lot from him, because he shown them the way to ride with the legs, in a great position.

So this student was the proof of our theory ! I learned from him a lot as well, and this shows the open mind of the RACE ACADEMY concept.

We reduced the times sessies from 25 minutes to 20 minutes each, because we noticed that the rookies are getting tired in improving in 25 minutes sessies.

A few students were staying from the first session, the groups evaluated well and some students have been themselves very surprised with their own feelings, progress, and lap time at the end of the sessions !

Like the first session, we work with the video support, which is such appreciated by students. The “one to one” sessies gave the opportunity to join new groups to a few riders, and improve the exercises to their own rhythm, in learning being more consistent before joining a group.
The “race sessie “ has been lived with enthusiasm.

All the students for both sessions will receive a personal DVD of the RACE ACADEMY SESSION 2006 in PAU.

It has been a success on all levels, and we gave “ rendezvous” to our students next year in august.
We hope to welcome more and more different nationalities in the RACE ACADEMY 2007 !

For all infos, website of the Race Academy in France: www.race-academy.fr
Race Academy in Holland: www.race-academy.nl

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