One session of the California Superbike School at the start of Feb and another at the start of March, which one will you attend?
Words: Vishnu G Haarinath
The world famous California Superbike School (CSS) is back this year with two sessions planned to accommodate 120 riders in total. Like previous years, the seventh edition of CSS will be conducted at the Madras Motor Race Track in Sriperumbudur near Chennai. The first session with 60 seats will take place from February 24 to 26 while the second session will take place from March 3 to 5. Enthusiasts can register for the limited seats for the school, which is run in India by TT Varadarajan (himself an enthusiast and a CSS participant for years), by logging on to the CSS India website – www.superbikeschoolindia.com. Registration fee for the training, which includes Levels 1, 2 and 3, is Rs. 60,000 per student.
There are some requirements however for participants. All riders need to carry their own riding kit, which can be either a one-piece leather race suit or a two-piece leather suit. Gloves need to be of the gauntlet type with either Kevlar or carbon fibre in the knuckles and proper track spec boots with toe sliders. Street boots, off-road boots or touring spec boots are not allowed. All helmets need to be full face and need to have a minimum DOT certification. We would also recommend that you use a helmet with a double D ring and not micrometric buckles. You can learn the art of cornering at CSS with any bike, be it 100cc or a litre class superbike, so long as it confirms to the necessary regulations. For those who don’t have a bike of their own, CSS can provide one to them on a first come first serve basis.
CSS was started in 1980 by the legendary Keith Code and over the years the school has taught past World Champions like Wayne Rainey and other racers like James Toseland, Chris Vermeulen and Ben Spies. CSS also counts 2012 Moto 3 Champ Sandro Cortese and current Moto 2 rider Thomas Lüthi as its alumni.