Racing is carried out with motorcycles on paved surfaces, usually on purpose built closed circuits such as the well-known UK circuits Silverstone, Brands Hatch, Donington Park, Cadwell Park etc. There are many lesser known circuits, Castle Combe, Pembrey, Darley Moor etc which present different challenges but allow for some excellent racing. RAF racers take part in events at all these circuits and more but the sport also includes racing on closed public roads, such as the iconic Isle of Man TT and hill climbs such as Goodwood style events. RAF racers are also represented in sidecar racing and some riders have taken part in overseas events including the Belgian Classic TT.
Vehicle Types and Discipline Variety
A large number of different machine types are represented, from the custom-built team sidecars, to 45 year old classic air cooled two strokes, to more modern bikes such as Honda CBR600 or Yamaha FZ600 and the latest sports bikes like the Triumph Daytona and Yamaha R6.
Riders usually join a club to race, the most popular being the Classic Racing Motorcycle Club, Thundersport GB and NG Road Racing, and have to undertake some training in order to be issued a race license from the Auto Cycle Union, the national governing body. Competitiveness and camaraderie exist in equal measure at all clubs and race events and motorcycle road racing is both an exhilarating sport and an excellent physical, mental and engineering challenge.
