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SGT
Keith Davis from 322CSS, RAAF Base Tindal, on his 1997
Honda Fireblade CBR919RR, practising weight-shift cornering
on Hidden Valley racetrack during an ADF-sponsored riding
safety course in Darwin.
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Photo
by CPL Crissy Williams
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NORTHERN
Air Force motorcycle enthusiasts got to hit Hidden Valley racetrack
in a tropical rainstorm recently while learning to ride safely.
It was one of the highlights of an ADF Motorcycle Association
(ADFMA) and Occupational Health, Safety and Compensation-sponsored
riding safety course held in Darwin, according to organiser
Sergeant Keith Davis, from No. 322 Combat Support Squadron.
“The skies opened up, giving everyone the opportunity to
ride in monsoonal-type rain – at times you could barely
see the edge of the racetrack, which was very, very interesting,”
he said.
“Rain aside, everyone was blown away about riding on a
safe track to learn both their mental limits and that of their
bikes, without going too far.”
With nearly 20 years’ riding experience, Sergeant Davis
said he initiated the course to help ADFMA promote motorcycle
safety to ADF members posted up north.
“I’ve been a member of the association for many years
now and [have] had the opportunity to do plenty of courses in
different states, but this is the first time I’ve coordinated
a course myself, because there was nothing in place up here,”
he said.
“The main reason I did so was because a lot of guys move
up here and bring or buy high-powered sports bikes, then go
flat out in the open speed limit zones; hopefully this training
will help keep them shiny side up and alive.”
The two one-day Skills Plus courses were run by the NT Motor
Vehicle Registry’s Motorcycle Education Training and Licensing
program, with excellent tuition covering theory and practice
in basic to advanced road craft techniques, including high-speed
braking and cornering.
“We had riders from all three Services and all rank levels,
with experience levels ranging from five months to 20-plus years,
so the course covered all skill and experience levels,”
he said.
“I’ve been in a couple of sticky situations before
and by using learnt techniques like progressive braking or weight-shift
cornering, I have been able to prevent incidents from occurring.
So these courses really do teach you things you might not have
known otherwise. Everyone thoroughly enjoyed it, and hopefully
it will become a regular event up here now.”
For more information on ADFMA, visit: http://intranet.defence.gov.au/armyweb/sites/adfma/
or http://adfma.asn.au/.
