Photo By Sgt. Erik Brooks | Gunnery Sgt. Shontate C. Morley, a postal finance officer with Headquarters and...... read more read more
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MARINE CORPS AIR STATION FUTENMA, Japan - Service members from bases across Okinawa participated in the Advanced Rider Track Day on Marine Corps Air Station Futenma July 16-17.
The event was a Marine Corps Base Camp Butler initiative, featuring the California Superbike School, and allowed motorcycle riders to practice handling and safety skills applicable to roadway use throughout Japan. They pushed the bikes to their physical and mechanical limits, which was only possible thanks to using a closed, controlled section of the flight line.
“It’s a great opportunity for service members to come out and hone their skills on a closed course,” said Dylan Code, a rider coach with the California Superbike School. “The flight line was shut down to provide a safe, closed environment to learn skills useful on the road.”
The day started with a class about different skills riders would be using during the day. Code went over techniques he uses to safely navigate the road.
Before going out on the track, the riders had their bikes professionally inspected by the rider coaches. The instructors looked for adequate tread on the tires, tire pressure, chain tightness, leaks and proper oil levels.
Following the class and the inspection, the students geared up and headed out to the track. After a couple of warm-up laps, the students opened up the throttle and started to practice their advanced skills.
The course was meant for advanced riders to use techniques they cannot practice on the roads, said Gunnery Sgt. Lanny B. Powell, director of the operations branch of the MCB Safety Office, MCB Camp Butler.
“Most of the riders have gone through our required base training and follow on training schools,” said Powell. “One of the hardest skills to learn is how to go around a corner. Most accidents happen on corners.”
Code taught and demonstrated the correct way to navigate corners. Each corner is different, so Code set up the track with different types of corners riders commonly encounter.
“There’s a lot that goes into handling a corner,” said Code. “I teach entry speed, when to lean rounding a corner, throttle control and the mishaps of cornering. This course was specifically designed to include corners and straight paths.”
This is the fourth time that the California Superbike School has come out here to teach service members, said Shawn Curtis, the deputy director of the MCB safety office, MCB Camp Butler.
“This was a great opportunity for riders to come out and practice their skills on a closed course,” said Curtis. “The riders learned a lot from the coaches that they can use out on the street.”
Coming out here with fellow riders is always a fun time, said Air Force Master Sgt. Dan L. Renfrow, a 21-year bike-riding veteran.
“We are a close group of friends that ride together. Learning advanced techniques that can help us ride on the road is a great opportunity to stay safe,” said Renfrow.
| Date Taken: | 07.22.2011 |
| Date Posted: | 07.21.2011 20:33 |
| Story ID: | 74103 |
| Location: | MARINE CORPS AIR STATION FUTENMA, OKINAWA, JP |
| Web Views: | 123 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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