New riders introduced to flat track racing

Jun 13, 2017 | 5:50 PM

Newcomers to the flat track motorcycle racing scene got the chance to hop on a bike and learn how to ride at the Fairgrounds yesterday.

Flat Track Canada stopped in North Battleford during its journey across the country to hold a course about the basics of the sport, and give beginners hands-on experience on a racetrack.

“The idea of the course is that it allows people to try flat track motorcycle racing at a basic level where we provide the gear, bikes, everything,” Aaron Hesmer, the president of Flat Track Canada, said. “We’re trying to grow the sport from the ground up, so the only real way to do it is making it accessible for people to go out and try the bikes, try the type of racing, [and] realize that it’s a ton of fun.”

Flat Track Canada also brought along professional racers such as Johnny Lewis of the American Flat Track series to help give advice to Hesmer’s students.

Hesmer himself has been riding for approximately 26 years, and says he both loves to ride, and teach others how to ride as well.

“Why I like [riding] so much is that it makes me feel so peaceful and at ease, and it’s a great way to relax without thinking about anything else,” he said. “It gives you adrenaline, it gives you a ton of reactive knowledge, and being able to just feel free in such a way of controlling something that feels a little bit out of control.”

“It’s kind of chaotic, but when you really nail that down and finesse it, there’s no greater feeling of success than that,” he added.

According to Hesmer, if he didn’t establish his flat track learning course, nobody else would have.

Hesmer encourages anyone who is curious about giving flat track a shot to check out Flat Track Canada on their website.

“If you want to come out and try flat track yourself, anybody can do it,” he said. “If you’ve never ridden a motorcycle, we always taught people that haven’t even tried a motorcycle, [so] it’s a great way to get into the sport of racing, or the sport of motorcycling.”

Hesmer said there is a possibility the organization will be back June 28, but if not, they’ll be back during next year’s cross country tour.

 

jared.gottselig@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @battlefordsNOW