Both a group of examiners from the Swedish Transport Administration and a group from the Swedish motorcycle police have enjoyed advanced training in SMC School!

The Swedish Motorcycle Association, SMC, has offered advanced training for motorcyclists since 1973. SMC School is a concept that attracts all kind of riders with all kind of experience. But, during the last weeks SMC had unexpected participants. Both a group of examiners from the Swedish Transport Administration and a group from the Swedish motorcycle police have enjoyed advanced training in SMC School!

Advanced training is voluntary to the ordinary rider and if you ask him/her about the effect the reply is simple. You become a safer rider, you improve your riding skills and you get more resources and tools to focus better on traffic situations  from taking part in advanced training.

Advanced training is compulsory to some groups and these groups have arranged internal training for many years. But, in the end of April, all examiners for motorcycle licenses in the south of Sweden took part in a two day course at Ring Knutstorp, a race track in Skåne. 32 examiners were trained by 15 SMC instructors and had a great time. The course had different parts; braking on asphalt and gravel, maneuvers in slow speed, riding in traffic and one day advanced riding technique at Ring Knutstorp. All parts were based on the SMC School guidelines.

“We had two great days with the examiners from the Swedish Transport Administration.  They have already told us that they want to book a new day next year – it’s a good rating from a professional riding group”, says Pelle Randau who is in charge of SMC School in Skåne.

All riders in the Swedish motorcycle police takes part in internal advanced training every year. The chief instructor of the Bergslagen Region concluded that SMC School is ahead of the internal police training – both in terms of the pedagogic method as well as riding technique. A result of this was that he decided to take a group of motorcycle police on their bikes to a SMC course.

“I’ve been taking part in SMC advanced training for more than ten years on my sports bike”, says chief instructor Jakob Leo. “I know that we have more to learn in the motorcycle police corps and that we can develop our own training through the experience and pedagogics in SMC School. So, I brought seven colleagues to an advanced training day at the race track Gelleråsen in Karlskoga. Not everybody was enthusiastic before the course but all were really pleased with the day. I’m sure that we will participate in more SMC School courses in the future. The courses are very good, has high quality and the courses are a cost efficient alternative for us”, says Jakob Leo.

The SMC instructors were also happy to share their knowledge and teach riding skills to the motorcycle police force. And, of course it felt good to overtake the police without any fear of fine!

More information:
Jesper Christensen, general secretary, jesper.christensen@svmc.se
Patrik Ericsson, manager SMC School, patrik.ericsson@svmc.se

Photography: Gary Bailey