Mark Edwards

One of the most experienced advanced riding coaches in the UK, Mark Edwards has helped thousands of motorcyclists become smoother and safer through his part in establishing top UK riding school Rapid Training. Having just decided to hang up his reflective jacket and earpiece, former Police Class 1 rider Mark is now looking forward to a (second!) retirement where he can indulge his love of motorcycles without assessing pupils at the same time.

“I properly discovered bikes when I was 15 years old and they have always been my passion,” says Mark. “So when I joined the force at
19 in 1979 I always hoped to be able to become a police rider one day as being paid to ride all day sounded like the best job in the world. Unfortunately, I wasn’t alone in that thought!

“In the 1980s it was incredibly hard to become a police rider and as places were so limited it was a case of ‘dead man’s shoes’, as opportunities only really arose when officers retired. I started as a beat bobby and then moved to traffic and it took me until 1991, 12 years after I joined Thames Valley Police, to become the motorcycle rider I really wanted to be.

“As is always the way with bikers, those who rode motorcycles on the force became friends and we used to meet up outside of work and ride together. I picked up loads of hints and tips from the police riders and so by the time I got on the course I was a much better rider than I would have been without them, which certainly helped. While I had done an IAM test (on a KH250 in 1980), there weren’t really any other advanced riding courses around, so I guess it helped sow the seed for Rapid Training.”