Your first time?

Flags

Communication on the racetrack is carried out using flags.
We have put together a selection of flags here that are used during MotoMonster training sessions.

You should familiarise yourself with these signals, as they are extremely important for your safety and that of the other riders on the track.

If you ignore these flags, you could well find yourself being shown the black flag. What it means is therefore on the first position :-)

Black Flag
The black flag is always shown to one rider. It is usually associated with a race number. If you are shown this flag, it signals that you must leave the track. All other riders may continue. Once you have left the track, you must report to the track entrance or to a marshal. This flag is displayed if there is a technical problem with your motorbike that has been spotted from the outside, or if you have been disqualified from a race.

Red Flag
The red flag signals that the race has been stopped; it is displayed at all marshalling posts. If you see this flag, ease off the throttle, do not brake suddenly and leave the track promptly. Do not stop on the track! When the red flag is displayed, overtaking is prohibited!

Yellow Flag
It is displayed at and in front of a dangerous section (usually a crash). If you see this flag, ride carefully past the dangerous section and do not brake suddenly, the run will not be stopped. When the red yellow is displayed, overtaking is prohibited!

Checkered Flag
It marks the end of the lap. The chequered flag is waved at the finish line when you cross the line or at the end of the lap. When you see it, complete one more lap and then head into the pits or the paddock. On the final lap, ease off the throttle a little and avoid overtaking manoeuvres where possible. Please do not brake abruptly or continue at what feels like walking pace; instead, leave the track promptly after the cool-down lap!

Green Flag
It tells you: Everything’s OK!
The green flag is shown, for example, after a dangerous section when the track is clear again. If you see it, you’re free to ride again and from then on overtaking is allowed.

Yellow/Red Flag
This flag is displayed when the grip conditions on the track have changed. For example, if a competitor has lost oil or coolant. Please adjust your speed accordingly – in other words, drive more carefully!

Blue Flag
This flag is only used during a race, e.g. in the MotoMonster Rookie Race.
It signals to the rider in front that a rider behind is about to overtake them.
As the rider in front, you should not try to hold off the faster rider behind you, but should let them overtake at a suitable point.

Behaviour on the track

As a general rule, you must observe the flag signals given by the marshals, particularly the ban on overtaking when a yellow or red flag is displayed. Once the lap is over (signalled by the checkered or red flag), do not continue riding with your ‘knife between your teeth’. Under no circumstances should you brake hard immediately after the flag; this could put the rider behind you in a difficult position. Complete the lap at a brisk pace (approx. 80%) and leave the track when entering the pits. Under no circumstances should you stop on the track! If there has been a crash, the marshals and paramedics will take care of the rider involved – even if it’s your mate – so please do not stop. In the event of a mechanical fault, leave the track as quickly as possible and simply park your motorbike in the verge beside the track; we’ll then come and collect you and your motorbike.
We’re on the racetrack – this is where you’re allowed and encouraged to let rip. However, obstructing or endangering others is forbidden, if you break the rules, we’ll deal with it just like in football, with yellow and red cards. If another participant starts to overtake, they’re usually going faster. You’re welcome to let them pass. You don’t have to give way straight away, but during a training session you don’t need to fight tooth and nail to hold your position either. Sticking close and learning from faster riders is always the better option. Faster riders will show themselves, you don’t need to look back just because of that. As long as there’s no one alongside you, you don’t need to worry about the riders behind you.

Rules for the event and the paddock

Contact person
Whatever the problem, at the MotoMonster registration you’ll always find someone to sort it out for you. Of course, you’re also welcome to speak to any of the other team members at any time – whether they’re instructors, service staff, timekeepers, etc. We’re happy to help.

Instructors
Instructors are on hand at all MotoMonster events. We have group instructors – in the black group, they look after 3–4 participants – and one-to-one instructors, who are responsible for just one rider in all other groups. You can approach them at any time for advice or if you have any questions.
If you’re still struggling with the track or want to refine your riding style, it’s best to book the one-to-one instructor training session. The instructor will discuss with you in advance what’s important to you and where your priorities lie. You can simply have the line shown to you or opt for a video instruction session. For the video instruction, the instructor has mounted two cameras, one facing forwards and one facing backwards.
After the session, you’ll analyse the videos and you’ll be given the videos to take home on a USB stick.
Booking a private instructor is the most effective way to learn quickly. These private sessions can be booked at the registration.

Suggestion box
If you have any criticism or suggestions, it helps everyone if you tell us that directly. Only then can we put things right. Neither we nor our participants are infallible. In most cases, raising the issue helps us to respond and resolve it. If another participant has made you trouble, please come to the registration desk. We’ll look into the matter and speak to the person involved. Misunderstandings are only human, as are mistakes.

A good night’s sleep
Hot topic!
Of course, most participants are here to spend a few relaxing days at the racetrack with friends. Nevertheless, we ask you to be considerate. You’re welcome to listen to music, but please turn it down significantly after 11 pm.

Food and drink
We’ve got your catering needs well covered. The training fee includes breakfast, water, coffee, fruit and snacks. You can order lunch or dinner separately via the registration form, or book full catering straight away.

Paddock
As we do not have unlimited space, we ask that you do not take up more space than you really need. Electricity is available in every paddock, please use only one cable reel per socket. The cable reel should also be fully unrolled to prevent it from overheating. Walking speed applies throughout the paddock. Securing your tent or marquee in the paddock using pegs or nails usually results in a hefty fine and is prohibited in all paddocks!

Preparing the bike
Remove or mask off any glass surfaces (risk of shattering), but mirrors may remain in place. Switch off the lights and deactivate the brake lights, or mask them off completely. The forces at work on a race track are greater than on the road. A number plate coming loose and hitting your helmet at high speed is no fun. So please remove it for practice sessions. On the racetrack, you put a lot more strain on your brakes. So make sure you still have enough brake pads left. A worn brake disc needs replacing anyway, so it’s best to do this before practice.

Technical Check
To make things as safe as possible for you, we’ll check your motorbike. We’ll focus particularly on the brakes, tyres and whether there are any leaks.

Sound Check
Depending on which race track we are on, different noise limits apply. Most have permanently installed measuring stations that take readings as vehicles pass by. At Groß Dölln and the Spreewaldring, a stationary noise measurement is also carried out. Here, the revs and dB figures stated on the type plate apply. Anyone who complies with these is approved. As a general rule: fit a dB Eater, and the safest option is always the original system.

Tyres and suspension

In principle, you can also ride on a racetrack with road tyres. This is particularly true if you’re riding your ‘normal’ road motorbike on a racetrack for the first time. Modern sports tyres offer you enough grip to meet the demands of a track novice. A problem with road tyres arises when the track and air temperatures are very high and you start to ride significantly faster as your experience grows. Under these conditions, standard road tyres quickly lose their grip; traction is then much poorer than with slicks or treaded racing tyres.

It’s a misconception that you can happily use up your old tyres on the racetrack. The less tread you have on the tyre, or the older the rubber is, the less grip the tyre provides. But that’s exactly what you need on the track, where you’re riding at a greater lean angle and accelerating the motorbike much more aggressively than on the road. So, as long as there’s still enough tread left on the tyre, you don’t need to change it just yet. Slicks or grooved racing tyres are the way to go once you’ve significantly improved your riding skills and are starting to fine-tune your lap times.

Touring tyres generally have less grip than sports tyres – so they’re less suitable, unless you plan to ride at a fairly leisurely pace.

Some people start tinkering with their suspension in the run-up to a training session because they’ve heard that, on the racetrack, the suspension should be stiffer or softer, or needs to respond better, or whatever.
If you do that, you’re getting on a motorbike you’re not familiar with. So you have to deal with an additional factor that makes you lose focus on what’s actually happening. It would be much better if you came to the track on the motorbike you’re already familiar with. If, whilst riding, you feel that something needs to be improved or adjusted, you can simply go and see the suspension service during the event. You can explain what you’re looking for to him, and he’ll know exactly which knobs or screws to adjust. You can then work together to find the ideal set-up and adjust it to your ‘comfort zone’. In most cases, this setting also makes driving on country roads much more enjoyable. And the settings are recorded for you. So you’re free to restore your suspension’s default settings afterwards and change them again if necessary (on the racetrack).

Checklist

When packing for the racetrack, it’s best to have the checklist to hand. It’s easy to lose track of things on your own, and nothing is more annoying than forgetting your helmet or ignition key
Your checklist for the event