2011 FIM Experienced Rider Training Symposium

The 6th edition of the FIM Experienced Rider Training Symposium (ERTS), organised by the Canadian Motorcycle Association and the Canada Safety Council, took place on 25-27 May in Niagara Falls and at Toronto Motorsport Park in Cayuga, a race track located at about 1 ½ hours from Niagara Falls.

More than sixty rider training specialists from 11 countries - all continents except Africa were represented – participated during 2 ½ days in a series of riding modules, experiencing different types of motorcycles and training techniques used in Canada.

The programme included: police bike training on real police Harley-Davidsons with the police trainers from Deeley-Harley Davidson, Canada, Canada Safety Council style training on BMW motorcycles from BMW Canada, scooter training (Kymco), cruiser style training (many different motorcycles), three-wheelers (Can-Am Spyders), and electric machines (Zero).

Off road training, a course designed to help road riders improve their skills, was provided by Clinton Smout using Yamaha motorcycles from his school, “Riding Adventures.”  

In order to take full advantage of the time available, participants attended short and very interesting presentations during lunch breaks, in particular one on anti lock braking systems by Bosch and one on children’ training (aged 6-12 years) on off-road motorcycles.- This is another service delivered by the “Riding Adventures” school.

The event was also supported by Bosch (North America) and by the FIA Foundation.

FIM Director of Public Affairs John Chatterton-Ross said, “This was a great contribution to the recently launched Decade of Action for Road Safety. FIM will continue to use the ERTS format to promote the training of more experts to deliver safety across all our continental unions. It was particularly encouraging to see attendance from FIM Asia and FIM Latin America. ”