We Tried Slide School... and Now We Get It
If you ride a motorcycle, you should experience this.
When we first heard about Slide School at DirtCraft, we weren't quite sure what to expect.
Would it be all about going sideways? Would it be intimidating? Were we going to spend most of the day picking bikes up off the floor?
Five hours later, after plenty of sideways moments, dusty smiles and more than a few shouts of "Throttle!!" from Gary Birtwhistle, we completely understood why riders keep coming back.
13 Riders. 13 First Timers.
One thing surprised us almost immediately.
Every rider there was trying flat track for the first time.
By the end of the day every single one of them was confidently sliding a motorcycle around DirtCraft's purpose-built flat track.
Watching everyone's confidence grow throughout the day was almost as rewarding as riding ourselves.
Meet the Bikes
We spent the day riding specially prepared Royal Enfield Guerrilla 450s.
They turned out to be the perfect bikes to learn on.
Forgiving, predictable and easy to ride, they let you concentrate on technique instead of worrying about the motorcycle.
It's Not About Going Fast
This was probably the biggest surprise.
Nobody was chasing lap times.
Everything starts slowly, with Gary introducing one new skill at a time until, almost without noticing, you're sliding the bike naturally.
The speed comes later.
The Weird Bit...
The hardest lesson?
Learning to relax and let the bike move underneath you.
Every instinct you've built from road riding tells you not to.
Then, suddenly, something clicks.
You trust the grip, relax your body, open the throttle...
...and you're sliding.
That first proper controlled slide is a feeling that's difficult to describe, but once you've experienced it, you'll immediately want another.
"Throttle!!"
If there was one word we heard more than any other all day...
It was:
"Throttle!!"
Not because Gary wanted everyone riding faster.
Because smooth, positive throttle is what settles the bike and makes everything work.
By lunchtime it had become the unofficial catchphrase of the day.
Why Every Rider Should Try It
Flat track isn't about becoming a racer.
It's about understanding grip.
Building confidence.
Learning not to panic when the bike moves around beneath you.
Those lessons don't stay on the dirt—they come back onto the road with you.
DirtCraft
The venue itself deserves a mention.
Purpose-built.
Relaxed.
Safe.
The track is watered throughout the day to keep the dust down while maintaining the grip needed for controlled sliding.
Combined with Gary's coaching, it's a brilliant environment to learn in.
Would We Recommend It?
Without hesitation.
Whether you've been riding for six months or twenty years, you'll come away having learned something.
You'll laugh.
You'll surprise yourself.
And don't be shocked if you're looking at booking another session before you've even got home.
Machinehead Moto Verdict
Slide School is probably the most fun you can have while improving your riding.
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
We'd recommend it to any rider.
Ride Flat Track With Us
We're already planning our next Flat Track day.
If you'd like to join us, register your interest and we'll let you know when the next date is announced.
