"You want to race – then prove you have the skills." That will be the key criteria to all applicants applying for a new ACU Road Race Licence who will have to show that they can ride a motorcycle or drive a sidecar in a competition or race track environment. And, this will be in addition to them also attending an updated Compulsory Training Course that was introduced some ten years ago.

The ACU Road Race Committee have just agreed on this course of action following concerns that were raised by Insurers, Circuit Owners, Instructors and Clubs that the assumption that holders of a DVLA Class A Licence to ride a motorcycle on the road or having adult racing experience (e.g. Supermoto, Motocross) meant that applicants were considered competent was not always the case.

“Since the Compulsory Training Course was introduced during 2003, it is understood that the number of accidents involving newcomers to Road Racing, in their first few races, has fallen significantly and it is felt that this extension to the scheme will have a similar result. The aim is also to make going racing for the first time an easier and less stressful undertaking,” said Paul King, the chairman of the Road Race Committee.

Every applicant will have to take rider ability test which will comprise a structured set of riding skill tutor assessment sessions. This will be mainly on track, but will also including off-track basic machine control skills for junior or less experienced riders. The tests will be conducted by ACU approved coaches on circuits countrywide.

The anticipation is that many Road Race Clubs will join together prior to the start of the 2014 season, to make the rider ability test available at as many venues as possible. Most organisers will provide the basic theory CTC and Basic Rider Assessment as part of a single day. Many track day organisers also provide this already and will expand the provision.

The ACU website will carry details of venues and dates. Costs will vary according to venues but it is not expected that the total cost of obtaining the first Road Race Licence will rise significantly.