Back to the track: What does a Covid safe trackday look like?

Motorcycle trackdays have resumed in England as the lockdown guidance given by the Government continues to ease. The first sessions were held on Tuesday, May 26 at Donington and Cadwell Park and operators including MSV Trackdays, No Limits and Focused Events are all taking bookings. The only bad news is that they’re selling out fast!

No Limits events at Cadwell, Mallory, Snetterton, Croft and Donington are almost full until the end of June and many events in July are filling up, too. It’s a similar story for MSVT and several of the Focused Events dates are full as well.

Obviously, it isn’t a case of ‘business as usual’ and there have to be strict social distancing measures in place to make sure everyone is being kept safe. MSV, for example, have brought in a raft of measures in order to adhere to the Government guidance, starting the day before you actually attend.

Related articles on MCN

• What to expect on your first trackday
• How Coronavirus is affecting motorcycle events
• How Coronavirus is affecting the motorbike industry

Pre-registration and briefings now take place online before you arrive at the venue meaning that you can collect a wristband straight away on the day using a socially distanced queueing system.

There’s no more than three bikes and three people per single garage unit, and garage doors all have to be kept open throughout the day. There is also strictly no overnight camping at venues and you mustn’t attend an event if you have Covid-19 symptoms.

“It was great, everyone stuck to the social distancing, pretty much,” said motorbike blogger, Kate Ralph (known online as Username Kate) who attended the Donington Park event.

“You were allowed a helper from your own household so there were a few couples around but there were no spectators. It made it feel really empty compared to a normal trackday which was actually quite nice, they should all be like that.” 

You can read more about the return of trackdays in next week’s issue of MCN, on sale Wednesday, June 3.

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Attention paddock: Short circuit enthusiasts flock as trackdays to recommence in England

First published on May 21 by Dan Sutherland

Motorcycle trackdays are set to restart at major English circuits next week, following a temporary halt in proceedings due to Coronavirus.

Meetings are scheduled to take place at Cadwell Park and Donington Park on Tuesday, May 26 through No Limits, following their reopening alongside Brands Hatch, Snetterton, Oulton Park and Bedford Autodrome. All were previously closed as of 6pm on Monday, March 23, due to the virus.

All owned by MotorSport Vision (MSV), their own events (MSVT) are also set to begin on Monday, June 1, with bike trackdays at Donington GP and Snetterton 300, as well as a car events at Cadwell Park. 

Alongside MSV tracks, June dates are also being advertised at venues including Mallory Park, Lydden Hill and Croft. Other venues, such as Blyton Park, are being advertised elsewhere, with one date at Donington Park also available through Focussed Events on Friday, June 26.

“We did five weeks’ worth of bookings in two-and-a-half days. It was difficult to cope,” No Limits owner, Mark Neate told MCN. “The main thing that we need people to obey is the rules on the day.

“If they don’t obey the rules of the day and fall foul, then we just have to stop running and probably won’t get running again,” he continued. “We can have the same capacity – as far as on track. We certainly can’t have the same capacity of persons in the actual venue.”

The decision to restart trackdays appears to be largely supported by MCN readers, with 65% of respondents in a recent online poll saying they were now looking to get back out on circuit. 

To comply with government guidance, both MSV and No Limits have already issued additional instructions on how to maintain social distancing and minimise risk. No Limits also say they have also added extra staff to monitor the paddock. Those flouting the rules risk being asked to leave.

Alongside monitoring spacing, there will be limited circuit access, no overnight camping, briefings sent via video link at MSV circuits and more. Those knowingly booked into the wrong group with No Limits will also be asked to leave. Non-MSV tracks will provide a written briefing.

Since speaking to MCN, No Limits have added a further nine dates across June. Should events be cancelled due to Coronavirus, all customers will receive a credit note.

“We’ve said that you can’t have three or four of you stood together, we’ve said you can’t all mass to the briefing, so at the end of the day obey these rules and we’ll be able to keep going. Don’t obey these rules and we won’t,” Neate continued. MSV were unavailable for comment at the time of writing.

Are you attending one of these trackdays? Why not tell us how it was by emailing ben.clarke@motorcyclenews.com