Female rider course at motoDNA

This is the first in a regular series of riding tips from motorcycle rider training specialists motoDNA.
The articles are written by coaching director Mark McVeigh, a former world 250GP racer and engineer for MotoGP and V8 Supercar teams. Mark has the ability to communicate complex engineering principles and make them clear enough for riders to understand and then apply in their riding.
motoDNA runs coaching at Lakeside Parkway in Brisbane and Sydney Motorsport Park and coaches include 500GP legend Kevin Magee, World Superbike racer Mark Willis and 2013 MotoGP rider Damien Cudlin.
In this first article, Mark talks about what makes female riders different which tied in nicely with our first giveaway for a women’s-only course valued at $345. The competition has now been run and won by Lisa Barnes of Sydney who says she is “committed to becoming a good and safe ride”. She will do the course in a few months and write an account of her experience, so stay tuned.

• By Mark McVeigh, director of coaching at motoDNA

It’s been interesting recently with studies emerging from the US indicating female riders are happier, with better relationships and increased confidence.

Motorcycles are lots of things to lots of people. Through training thousands of students over the years, our feedback ranges from pure fun and freedom through to meditative and healing powers.

Further evidence of motorcycle’s healing powers has come from Diggers that have been through the motoDNA program. They often comment on the feeling of happiness through the pleasure of riding and the community of motorcycling, helping them deal with the trauma they have experienced serving our country.

There also seems to be a trend of middle-aged women coming through who also feel empowered. In our experience, female riders are not alone in feeling happier than those unfortunates who don’t ride. It seems the same study would most likely report the same findings for men.

motoDNA set up its women’s-only training days last year after requests to simply have no blokes present. That was pretty easy to do and presented an ego- and testosterone-free environment for ladies to relax and focus on improving their riding skills and confidence.

The course has since evolved to include training specific to women, focusing on particular elements that dramatically improve female rider skills such as slow-speed maneuvering, braking and counter steering, even yoga has been included.

Over 90% of motoDNA’s female students give feedback and the women’s-only training course is constantly evolving to fit with female riders’ needs.

Men could learn a lot from the ladies’ attitude to training, taking their time to focus on one drill at a time without rushing to get their knee on the ground!

motoDNA’s ethos is to encourage students to step a few percent outside their comfort zone on each skill session. This results in an accumulative gain in understanding not only the riding techniques being taught but also the rider’s and their motorcycles limits.

This is important as it drastically reduces the chance of a moment on the road and the often negative survival reaction that can automatically kick in.

• motoDNA is offering 10% discounts for their next female-only training at Lakeside on May 17 and Sydney Motorsport Park on April 29. Book online before April 20 to qualify.