Question 1

Is this a race school or track day?

Accepted Answer

No. TractionWerks courses are skill-focused cornering training for street riders. There is no racing, no lap timing, and no pressure to go faster.  Track day riders will absolutely get value from this, but it's nothing like a track day.

Question 2

Do I need track experience to take a course?

Accepted Answer

Not at all. Many students have never ridden on a closed circuit before.  The circuit is merely a means to an end.  Think of it like your own personal twisties with most hazards and distractions removed.  19 corners you can spend a full day improving on.

Question 3

Will I be pushed to ride faster than I’m comfortable with?

Accepted Answer

No. You control your pace. Training emphasizes smoothness, consistency, and technique, not speed.  You are grouped with riders of similar experience and riding style and while passing does happen at times, the onus is on the rider passing you to ensure they do nothing that will make you uncomfortable.  Additionally, your program for the day, guided by your coach is tailored to what they see on the track in terms of your comfort level.

Question 4

What kind of bike do I need?

Accepted Answer

Almost any street-legal motorcycle is welcome—sport, naked, cruiser, touring, ADV, or standard. The training adapts to the rider and the bike.

Question 5

Do I need full leathers?

Accepted Answer

No. A jacket and pants that zip together at the back of the waist meet the minimum requirement. Leathers are optional, not required.  For a full list of the gear requirements,  click here.

Here's an image of a jacket with the zipper at the back of the waist that attaches to a set of pants.

Question 6

How many riders are on the track at once?

Accepted Answer

Only 12 riders at a time, with four instructors—a 3:1 student-to-coach ratio.  That is spread out over the 2.3km long track.

Question 7

Is cornering training useful for street riding?

Accepted Answer

Absolutely. Vision, line selection, entry speed, smooth inputs, and body position apply to every corner you ride on the street.  Cornering training is not about being fast in corners or leaning the bike way over, although that can be an outcome. Cornering training is about assigning the act of cornering to muscle-memory, giving you brain-space for increased situational awareness and to avoid panic reactions such as grabbing brake, chopping throttle or target-fixation.

Question 8

How physically demanding is the course?

Accepted Answer

It’s mentally engaging and moderately physical, with ample breaks between 30 minute on-track sessions to rest and reset.  It's important to be prepared for the environmental conditions.  In hot weather, the track and pits are very warm.  Having good vented gear and keeping hydrated are key.  Conversely, on rainy days you'll want to have good raingear.  We ride rain or shine!

Question 9

I'm an experienced rider, do I need to take Cornering101?

Accepted Answer

Yes.  Every rider starts with Cornering101.  Cornering101 lessons are the skills the instructors work on the most in their daily rides. Even if you have a basic understanding of some of the skills, your coach will work with you to get the most out of the drills. Having a general knowledge of the skill we're trying to develop allows us to focus on more targeted areas of improvement.

Question 10

Is this training only for new riders?

Accepted Answer

No. Riders with decades of experience often discover gaps in technique and leave with greater confidence and consistency.  The drills we have put together break down the various cornering skills into actions you work on one at a time and build on each other to result in a specific outcome, readying you for the next drill or course.

Question 11

How will I be safer after taking cornering training?

Accepted Answer

By turning cornering into muscle memory, riders free mental capacity to manage gravel, animals, potholes, and other surprises.  What we're saying is that the act of riding through a corner takes a good deal of concentration and focus.  When you're less experienced, that concentration and focus occupies the majority of your brain-space.  After you've done some training and spent time practicing, you don't have to consciously remind yourself to look, choose a line, get your body in the correct position and relax.  That brain-space you are no longer using can now be allocated to situational awareness and thinking about "what-ifs", preparing you for nasty surprises.  It also gives you room to make good decisions about how to respond to whatever the corner throws your way.  This avoids the common unhelpful reactions of grabbing brake, chopping throttle or target-fixating.

Question 12

Why is this training rare in Canada?

Accepted Answer

There are many big and well-known schools throughout the western world that offer this type of training made accessible and translatable to street riders.  In the US for example, they have the National Traffic Safety Board and other large organisations who collate, analyse and publish motorcycle crash statistics.  This gives the US schools an excellent, factual justification for their training.  Lacking that in Canada, it is up to the community to point at the rest of the world as an example and attempt to emulate their efforts.

Many US training companies do circuits every year of the different tracks in many of the US states, making their training even more accessible.  There were 8.8 million motorcycle registrations in the US in 2023, giving the training companies a large market of riders.  In addition, the more well-known schools are actually required training for anyone who rides a motorcycle of any kind in the US military, lending both credence and a captive market to these schools.

Obviously in Canada, with just over 829,000 motorcycle registrations in 2022, our market is more limited.  Also, there are a limited number of tracks to use to facilitate this type of training.  We are exceedingly fortunate to have a track on Vancouver Island we can use.

There's no one answer to this question.  Are we heading in the right direction in Canada?  That's tough to say.  What we can say is we're doing our part!

Question 13

Why is this training so expensive?

Accepted Answer

Renting a race track is very expensive.   If you read Our Philosophy, you'll know we're not in this to make a buck.  We pay the track fees regardless of how many slots we fill and we don't get refunds for rainy days, which is why we ride rain or shine.

Beyond that, one day of training will permanently improve skills, confidence, and safety margins—often paying for itself the first time you avoid a close call.

We recognise that for some this training is a significant amount.  However, we truly believe that it's an investment in yourself that will pay off quickly.

Question 14

When does it start and end?

Accepted Answer

The gates open up at 7am.  You will be directed through to the pits where you can start getting ready.  We finish at 4:30pm and generally we are off the property right around 5pm.

Question 15

Where is the circuit?

Accepted Answer

The Vancouver Island Motorsport Circuit is north of Duncan, a short way down the Cowichan Valley Highway (#18).   Here is a Google Maps link.

Question 16

Is my type of bike suitable?

Accepted Answer

Generally speaking yes!  All types of bikes are ridden on our courses.  If you have any special concerns, please reach out to us at info@tractionwerks.com and ask!

Having said that, your bike has to pass a technical inspection before it's allowed out onto the track. For more info on that, please see our page on Safety.

Question 17

Can I wear kevlar leggings or jeans?

Accepted Answer

No.  The absolute minimum is a two-piece textile suit that must zip together at the waist.
​
Two-piece leathers are even better. They must zip together at the waist.
 
A one-piece leather suit is the best, but we know not everyone has one.

If you are wearing textiles you should wear a non-synthetic layer underneath. In the event of a long slide textile suits can melt from the friction. A cotton layer will help to prevent the suit from melting to your skin in these situations.

Question 18

What should I bring with me?

Accepted Answer

Great question!  Here's a list of things you should have with you:

Appropriate, authorised and weather suitable riding gear.
Raingear and/or extra layers as necessary.
A clean, freshly serviced motorcycle in good working order, with a full tank of gas.
Water or other preferred hydration.  You can refill water bottles on site in the facility.
Food for lunch and snacks.  There's not enough time on lunch break to go off site and get food.  We generally have a cooler with room if you need to store perishables.
It's good to have a screwdriver or other appropriate tool to remove your licence plate bolts and some painter's or gaffer tape to tape up your bike to ready it for the track.
Whatever personal items you need.  Your belongings are stored in your group's pit area and are perfectly safe.  The pit is a controlled area monitored by one of our staff.

Question 19

Are frame sliders or crash bars permitted or recommended?

Accepted Answer

Yes.  Frame sliders and/or crash bars are permitted, and they're common on many bikes.  While not required, they can offer protection in low-speed incidents.  That said, we ask all our students to ride at 70-80 percent of their capability.  This leaves lots of safety margin and as mentioned in many places the emphasis is on technique, not speed.  While crashes do happen, they are the exception.

Question 20

Should I bring my own tape for signals/mirrors, or is it provided?

Accepted Answer

Yes, you should bring your own painters or gaffer tape.  Then you won't be reliant on someone else to get your bike ready for tech inspection in the morning.  You should also bring a screwdriver or other appropriate tool to remove and reinstall your licence plate.

Question 21

Can I leave my trailer and bike locked up somewhere at the track overnight if I am doing a double-header?

Accepted Answer

Yes, you can leave a trailer there at your own risk. The compound is fully fenced, but there isn't any overnight security. We aren't aware of anyone ever having anything go missing.

Question 22

Do I have to wear motorcycle boots?

Accepted Answer

It's best to check with us directly on whether your boot is appropriate.  info@tractionwerks.com   Otherwise, refer to the Safety page for guidance.

Question 23

Can I get a refund if it rains?

Accepted Answer

No.  We ride "rain or shine". Some of the best training days are in the rain. If it happens, you'll likely gain a huge amount of experience/confidence/feel in exchange for temporary discomfort.

You can choose not to ride in the rain but your course fees are non-refundable. Please see our Terms and Conditions page for more info or reach out to us at info@tractionwerks.com if you have more questions.

Question 24

Do you provide bikes for use on the course?

Accepted Answer

No.  You must bring your own bike.  All styles of bikes are welcome, see the Safety page for more detail on your bike.

Question 25

Do you offer refunds?

Accepted Answer

No.  We understand plans can change. Due to the nature of track bookings and limited enrolment, course fees are non-refundable, but we’re always happy to discuss transfer options when possible.

Visit our Terms and Conditions page for more specific info on transfers.

Question 26

Will we practice emergency maneuvers?

Accepted Answer

No. The focus is on cornering technique, but better cornering control improves emergency responses indirectly. Also, with the extra mental bandwidth and awareness gained from this training, riders often find themselves involved in fewer and fewer situations where emergency manoeuvres are required.

Question 27

How does this training differ from beginner licensing courses?

Accepted Answer

Licensing courses teach traffic survival and the basic skills you need to operate a motorcycle. Cornering courses teach how to control a motorcycle through curves at real-world speeds —something most licensing programs barely have the time to cover.

Question 28

Is this training recognized or respected outside Canada?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Our approach is based on widely adopted cornering curricula used around the world.

Question 29

Can my family / partner / friend come out to watch me?

Accepted Answer

Yes.  They must park in the lot in front of the facility building.  Please do not enter the pits with any type of vehicle.

Immediately after arriving, please go into the lobby of the facility and sign a waiver allowing you to be on the property.

You are free to hang out on the stairs and the pit area, but the classroom and coaches feedback areas are off limits while in use.

Question 30

Why do I need to remove my licence plate and tape up my signals, headlights, taillights, mirrors and speedometer?

Accepted Answer

Licence Plate:
We ask you to remove your licence plate to ensure that neither the mounting bolts nor the plate itself come off out on the track, causing a hazard to other riders.

Lights & Signals:
Bright headlights can catch your eye and pull your focus away from what you should be focusing on. Inadvertently triggered brake lights or signals can confuse trailing riders.

Mirrors:
When riding on a track, your focus should be 100% on what's happening in front of you. A poorly timed mirror check can easily result in some impromptu off-roading, so we ask that you tape or remove your mirrors.  We will teach you the best practices needed to stay safe and predictable to the riders behind you.

Speedometer:
How fast you're riding is 100% immaterial to how well you're progressing through the drills.  At no point do we want you to worry or even think about speed.  Your brain will be busy enough as it is.

Moto Guild

Frequently asked questions