Di Traverso Flat Track School – Soresina June 2015

Sideways Flat Track School: The initiative we anticipated it on our pages after the presentation at the end of 2014. Already then from the eyes of Marco Belli, instructor and owner of the school, it was clear how much he cared about his new adventure, now we understand the reasons better. Meanwhile for those who don't know him he is the king of the motorcycle traverse, at least in our country. Over 20 years of career in Flat TrackIn fact, his first participation in the European championship dates back to 1989 (he was 17 years old at the time), full of successes and accumulating a unique wealth of experience and knowledge. In our area this sport is in fact almost unknown, even if an increasingly numerous niche audience is starting to have it, also thanks to Marco himself, as well as to the advertising that comes from Valentino Rossi, who often trains for the MotoGP riding a Flat Track motorbike. She is not surprised that the two know each other, given that they share a passion for traverse. Marco Belli's passion for two wheels also pushed him to participate in the legendary Pikes Peak 5 times and not so much for fun: two second places in the first two participations and a third in the last edition before the track was entirely asphalted . However, he defended himself well on asphalt, adding two fifth places to his list of achievements. As he says, Belli is remembered well in those parts... Two children, the threshold of 40 has passed for a few years now, Marco defines himself as "at the end of his career" and with the desire to break away from the racing world. The idea of una scuola family-run therefore appeared to be one of the most interesting to make the most of the experience gained and at the same time continue to work "sideways". To tell the truth, however, he admits that he misses competitive activity quite a bit and is working to take part in some competitions on a Yamaha, but school is now his main activity. He took it seriously and it shows by who he is Fmi technical instructor for 2 years already and that the course calendar is quite busy. Thanks to an idea that is certainly new in Italy and capable of garnering a fair amount of interest right from the start. The sessions are always "sold out", with 12 participants divided into two groups of 6. This is demonstrated by the fact that we also had to book well in advance in order to participate in the course. For now the two locations are Misano and the Soresina racecourse (in the province of Cremona). Our choice was one of convenience, given the much shorter distance from Milan than the second, we will then discover that the Soresina Racecourse is also more interesting due to the characteristics of the track, length and surface.

Photography by Davide Pravettoni

The program includes theArrival of participants around 10am, after coffee and breakfast half an hour later it starts presentation and a first theoretical smattering. Marco we care about safety of everyone and, even if the hope is that they will never have to be used, he informs us that the participants are covered by one insurance policy for accidents and civil risks towards third parties, and that an ambulance is present to ensure rapid intervention if someone were to get hurt. We'll find out that the risks are modest, but when you get on a motorbike it is always better to take all possible precautions. Reason why it is required complete technical clothing, from boots to helmet, made available by the school with a small surcharge (50 euros), for those who want it or do not have their own. Technical partners are AGV for helmets, Dainese and Deus for clothing. The motorbike, on the other hand, is a piece of history, the Yamaha SR400 born over 35 years ago and recently returned to the Iwata company's price lists. Ideal because it is easy and simple, but also for the delivery of the single cylinder which is suitable for this use. For the occasion it is revised and customized for the purpose. The main changes concern tires and rims, but also the Tommaselli handlebar with Flat Track design and saddle and tail. THE 19 inch Excel spoked wheels They have a 2.15 front channel and a 2.50 rear channel and fit Golden Tire GT 267 in soft compound, with 6 mm dowel, as required by the regulations for the races, held at a very low pressure, which fluctuates between 0,8 and 1,2 Bar depending on the track and its surface. Even if the front brake does not exist in competition, in this case it is maintained, but must absolutely not be used, as we will see later. We'll turn up an oval 800 meters long, covered with 7-10 cm of earth. As in all Flat Track races you turn counterclockwise, so you always and only turn left, with the internal foot sliding, which is why specific-use footwear is asymmetrical and a metal plate is mounted under the sole of the left foot.

Photography by Davide Pravettoni

Marco Belli's leather suit is also particular, it only appears to be a normal motorbike suit, but in reality it is made so as to be less tied up, as well as obviously not having soap bars on the knees. The essential part to start doing the first exercises and the position in the saddle. It's the as far forward as possible, loading the front, which must become the fixed point in driving, with the rear of the motorbike remaining unloaded and free to move following the movements aimed at obtaining the best possible traction. In practice you often find yourself with the bike "flagged" and parallel to the straight that follows the curve, before getting there. The wrists are pointing upwards (the levers are therefore moved accordingly), the shoulders almost above the handlebars, the weight of the body on the opposite side than is usually done in a curve traveled by motorbike. You bend to the left, the weight must be placed on the right, moving the lower back and pushing on the right leg resting on the platform. The left goes towards the ground, but remaining as "unloaded" as possible, it only serves to give extra safety and at the same time by doing so the inside knee opens up to the curve, obtaining aerodynamic resistance that helps in turning. Knees which normally remain tight and adherent to the tank, to ensure optimal control of the motorbike. What we won't be able to put into practice even at the end of the course, because it takes a good amount of exercise to get there, is the correct entry into the curve of the Flat Track, without braking, loading the weight forward and bending the bike to trigger the "spinning" of the rear which leads the bike to bend. We need to "get violent", because any motorcyclist is used to an insertion that is completely different from this. Seeing Marco Belli riding like this with his Flat Track YZ450 is something to give you goosebumps. At a speed of over 130 km/h and without letting up on the gas he tilts the motorbike a few dozen meters before the two curves of the oval, then runs along them, brushing them with the bike sideways displacing a copious amount of earth. The speed is almost constant along the entire track, the bike remains straight only for a few moments when exiting corners.

Photography by Davide Pravettoni

After this brief theoretical introduction (not even half an hour) we immediately move on to the first exercises, with a slalom between the pins to begin to familiarize ourselves with a posture and a technique which are really very distant from those we are used to on the street. Marco and the second instructor follow the participants, divided into two groups of 6, because there are 6 motorbikes plus a reserve, but above all because without breaks you couldn't survive. We never thought that even these basic exercises could be physically tiring. Both on the bike and between sessions they are always collected everyone's feedback, in order to try to help achieve a good result in a short time.

Photography by Davide Pravettoni

We then continue with other exercises, as well as some color details, how to try the famous aerodynamic position, with the head low on the tank and the left hand on the fork leg, which serves to gain a few more kilometers of speed. Only gas is used, because the exercises are carried out at low speed, all in first gear. The important thing is to understand, in addition to posture, the mechanisms for losing grip and managing the motorbike.

Photography by Davide Pravettoni

Once the first hour and a half of exercises have passed, a well-deserved rest comes with a lunch break, after which they end the latest exercises, donuts (turn the bike around), small ovals where you can trigger the crossbar with the rear brake and make it continue with the gas they serve to prepare the most interesting part of the course: running on the entire oval. 3 abundant hours to put the teachings into practice and start getting serious. There are those who start strong straight away and those who go gradually, but in the end everyone had fun going sideways and it's great. Step after step you understand something more and improve. One of the strangest things we have personally experienced, for example, is that with the throttle open and managing the curve correctly you never fall (or in any case it is very difficult to do so), while slowing down (without even using the rear brake) there comes a moment in which the bike is no longer standing, luckily we have not experienced this, but we came close to avoiding a collision with a slower driver than expected. In the end, to avoid the fall, we remembered the instructor's words and forced ourselves to counteract our spirit of survival: we opened the throttle and it was wonderful, overtaking on the inside with the bike sideways, spectacular!

Photography by Davide Pravettoni

Little by little we developed a taste for it, until we arrived at heats to select the best 6 who competed in the final competition of the course. 3 laps with a standing start, where in addition to driving you have to manage the presence of 5 other motorbikes that want to put their wheels in front of you. This too was a moment that, as well as being fun, it helped us a lot to improve by pushing ourselves beyond the limits we had before. Until'last corner of the last lap of the final where, even if we only won the glory, to get past the last opponent we went through it with full throttle, without ever partialling, discovering that this is the best technique, if you have enough space to widen.

Photography by Davide Pravettoni

The course then ended with the delivery of the certificate and the ritual photo, but all 12 participants then stayed for an aperitif with friends and while they exchanged some chat together, it became clear that no one was disappointed with the day and we were all thrilled, many eager to continue on a path which one wishes was just the beginning. Marco Belli has already gathered the enthusiasm of participants in other sessions and for him now the idea is to open to an advanced course, but also to be a driving force in Italy in a niche specialty that is starting to take hold, perhaps finding the availability of a structure that hosts those who want to put it into practice, even outside of training sessions. Along the way home, our thoughts turned to other initiatives in which we had participated in the past, some of which were really interesting, but never as much as that of "Di Traverso Flat Track School". Even after a shower we still had the earth between our teeth, every muscle in our body was sore (and it was like this for a few days), but satisfied by one of the most beautiful experiences a two-wheel enthusiast can have. Often the courses are interesting, but we go home torn about whether the price is justified by what we have done, in this case we have no doubt, it's money well spent, one of the best gifts to give to anyone who appreciates the genre, and if you don't have anyone who thinks about it, treat yourself to an experience like this, it will do you good!

Photography by Davide Pravettoni

A special thanks to Marco Belli and his staff.
The photographs in the article are by Davide Pravettoni whom we also thank for his contribution to those present in the gallery.