No different than playing a musical instrument, improving your riding involves practice, practice and more practice. But how do you know if you are working on the correct techniques and skills? Sooner or later, to truly develop as a rider, you are going to need to take a class, attend a school or if you are lucky enough, work with a coach.

Where classes and school programs are a great way to obtain information and new techniques, the ability to tailor one-on-one coaching sessions to the student’s specific goals and requirements offers maximum value.
While it may sound great, a successful coaching program is equally dependant on both the coach and the student. This is a topic that CSBK road racer and Inside Motorcycles contributor Bronti Verbeek and I have talked about at length and when a switch to a much faster motorcycle highlighted challenges in my own riding, it also provided the opportunity for us to explore both sides of this equation. You can read Bronti’s thoughts on coaching in her latest blog by clicking here.

The first step in the process was to get together at the track and for Bronti to spend some time coaching me. In addition to assessing my riding and creating a plan for me to work on, this session would provide time to come up with the elements that are critical when selecting a coach.

Selecting the right coach
This is where it all starts. Go to any racetrack and you will have no problem figuring out who the fast riders are. But beyond giving you a tow around the track, can they actually teach you to be a better rider?

As a rider, Bronti’s resume speaks for itself. With race wins and podium finishes, including those on the CSBK national stage, Bronti has already secured a spot in Canadian motorcycle history. Add in years of experience instructing riders of every level at schools like the prestigious Ken Hill Masterclass and you know she has the ability to teach. But is this enough?

Even with an impressive resume, a successful coaching relationship is only going to be as strong as the rapport between the student and the coach. In this particular case, Bronti and I have been colleagues and friends for years, so we have the advantage of knowing each other’s personalities and styles. That being said, during our initial pre-track discussion Bronti’s approach to both understanding and clarifying my goals, reaffirmed that we were a good fit.

In short, before signing on with a coach, take the time to interview them. If you don’t feel a connection with a coach that will inspire open and honest communication, save your money and keep looking.

Leave your ego at home
Our first on-track session provided Bronti the opportunity to assess my riding and determine if my concerns of over-braking in reaction to the dramatically increased pace of my new bike was indeed the best priority to improve my riding.

Sitting down to debrief, Bronti agreed that braking was the area with the most room for improvement. At the same time, she highlighted that my lines, while good, had room for improvement and that “apexes don’t bite, so get on them!” We also discussed the need to revisit the positioning of my bike on certain corners to allow for a better drive out.

This is the point that you need to leave your ego at home. Yes, receiving feedback that your lines have room for improvement, especially on a track where you have literally completed over a thousand laps, can sting. But at the end of the day, this is why you engaged a coach and if you can’t put your ego to the side, you are probably better to keep working on your own and not waste the coach’s time.

A willingness to listen and learn can open you up to new insights that you might not ever figure out on you own. As an example, when pointing out a more efficient line into RMM’s corner 13, Bronti was able to demonstrate how the issues with my current line could in fact be tied back to my exit out of corner 10. This one piece of feedback completely changed, and improved, how I approach one of the most critical sections of this track – and also a section where I thought I was already pretty fast.

Write it down
Taking the time to debrief after each on-track session is critical. It is the opportunity for the coach to provide feedback, the student to ask questions and then for coach to outline the format and goals for the next session before you head back out on to the track. This is also the information that provides a platform for you to work off of and refer back to as you continue to work on the skills and techniques that the coach provides.

It’s a lot of information to take in and a lot of it will quickly disappear if you don’t take the time to write it down. Regardless of how stellar your memory is, write it down. Towards the end of our first debrief Bronti asked me why I wasn’t writing anything down and I assured her that I would be able to remember it all. When she challenged me to list the things that I would be working on I initially listed three, however upon further reflection the list quickly grew to over nine items that I needed to remember and will continue to work on long after our coaching session. Yes, I wrote it down.

Video rules
Prior to heading out on the track, Bronti took a moment to install an Insta360 Go camera inside her helmet. Sitting down after our first session, she connected the camera to her cell phone and in a matter of seconds was able to clearly demonstrate each of the observations that she had made during our time on track in 4K quality video. Efficient and effective.

As our day progressed, Bronti continued to use the video after each session to demonstrate and reinforce progress and opportunities for further improvement. Video does not replace the coach, but it provides an additional level of feedback and truly enhances the student’s ability to visually comprehend the points raised by the instructor.

With the availability of leading-edge technology at prices that continue to fall, video review is something that every coach should be providing and should be a consideration when looking for a coach.

Who should hire a coach
If you have read this far, then the short answer is “you.” Every rider who is serious about improving their skills has something to be gained by working with the right coach. It is a chance to have someone focus on your riding and help you work towards your specific goals. And no, there is no such thing as outgrowing the need for coaching, after all even MotoGP racers rely on coaches to refine and perfect their techniques.

So yes, whether you are trying to achieve a new personal best lap time, win a championship or just feel more comfortable when you are out on your bike, coaching is a great investment.