To make the day run as smoothly and safely as possible we have in place some important regulations. Following is a full Phillip Island Safety Briefing. This is delivered at the beginning of each school day.
Helmets
Helmets are to be worn AT ALL TIMES whilst you are riding a motorcycle. Whether you are on track, in the car park or riding through pit lane, you must wear a helmet. If you are not wearing a helmet you must only push your bike.
Pit lane
Pit lane is ONE WAY (from Turn 11 track exit to Course Control). Under no circumstances are you to ride reverse direction up pit lane. If you wish to return to the top of pit lane, please ride to the end of the garages, turn left, and continue through the back of the compound. There are to be no cars, children under the age of 16, and open-toed shoes in pit lane.
Entering the track
The only place you will be entering the circuit is at Turn 1 via Course Control. When you do so, please stay to the left of the track all the way to Turn 2. Bikes travelling down the straight could be moving 100km/hr faster than you. Once you are through Turn 2 you may move onto the normal riding line.
Exiting the track
When you are leaving the track please raise your left arm in the air to signal to other riders you are exiting. You can exit the track at Turn 11, down directly into pit lane, or you may also exit the track at Turn 4.
Should you find yourself exiting at Turn 4 ‘accidentally’ please continue up the escape road, return to Course Control and we will allow you to re-enter the circuit at Turn 1. DO NOT, UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES, DO A U-TURN AND RE-ENTER THE CIRCUIT AT TURN 4. This causes distractions to other riders and can be extremely dangerous.
Passing rules
Riders may pass anywhere on the circuit, on the outside or inside of another rider, provided a minimum clearance of 6-8ft (approximately 2 metres) is given AT ALL TIMES. When entering a turn, only pass on the inside of another rider if you can be certain you will leave the minimum clearance at all points in the turn. If you cannot do this please wait to pass elsewhere.
Flags
Flags are our only way of communicating with you when you are out on track – please look out for them and obey them. At Phillip Island we have 7 manned flag points and 12 corners which means, whilst the entire track can still be observed, not every corner has a flag marshal. Therefore it is important you take the time in your first session to become familiar with the points which are manned.
Following is a full description of the flags used at Phillip Island.
Yellow flag: Warns of changed track conditions
(a) Stationary. : Lower level risk. Eg minor object or incident and well off line
Possibly warning of a waved yellow further ahead proceed with caution
(b) Waved. Extreme caution. Eg object or incident is on line or dangerously placed and in the corner or section you’re in carefully slow
slow to a speed where you can easily avoid any danger. There is NO passing under any yellow flags. When reaching a manned flag point with no flag proceed as normal.
NO PASSING is allowed under either the stationary or waved yellow flags. Once you reach a manned flag point which is not displaying a flag you can continue your session as normal and begin overtaking again.
Chequered flag: End of session
The chequered flag is displayed at Turn 7 and indicates your session is over. Continue through to the Turn 11 pit entry. Raise your left arm in the air to let others know you are leaving the track and continue into the pits.
Black Flag: Issue with bike and/or rider:
*Half rolled up – displayed – pointed*
Rider must exit circuit and go directly to course control.
Blue flag
Half rolled up and pointed at you. The blue flag is used to remind you of the drill you are supposed to be working on. Our staff have observed you either doing something you shouldn’t be, or not doing something you should be. If the blue flag is pointed at you, remind yourself or your drill and its format (e.g. 4th gear, no brakes) and continue on. If you get a blue flag on multiple occasions during a session, please leave the track at the nearest exit and return to Course Control.
Red flag- Session terminated
(a) Waved and all flag points. Extremely dangerous situation. All riders must exit circuit at the first available exit T4 or between T11 and T12.
No passing
No running the red flag
(b) Waved (at all manned flag points). A serious incident has occurred on the circuit and it has been deemed unsafe for your session to continue. The circuit needs to be cleared immediately and you must leave at the first available exit (either Turn 4 or Turn 11). DO NOT CONTINUE CIRCULATING UNDER A RED FLAG – this is extremely dangerous and a serious offence. Once you have exited the track you may re-form two lines at Course Control where you will be informed of the status of your session i.e. whether your session will be restarted or terminated.
(c) Half rolled up and pointed at you. The red flag will only be used in this manner at the start line (Course Control). If a red flag is pointed at you it indicates the marshals have observed an issue with your bike, gear or riding behaviour and you need to exit the track and return to Course Control immediately. Leave the circuit at the next exit (Turn 4), and follow the escape road past the circuit kiosk to return to Course Control. The Course Controller will speak with you, assist you in resolving the issue, and get you back on track as soon as possible. DO NOT CONTINUE CIRCULATING IF YOU HAVE RECEIVED A RED FLAG – this may be extremely dangerous and is a serious offence. If, after seeing the flag pointed at you, you become aware of a serious mechanical issue (such as an oil leak) STOP CIRCULATING IMMEDIATELY and park your bike against a tyre wall well clear of the circuit. Recovery staff will collect you as soon as it’s safe to do so.
The flags are our only way of communicating danger so please look out for them and obey them.
Incidents on track
If you come across a fallen rider please DO NOT STOP TO HELP. We have trained staff on site to handle these exact situations. Please look out for flags signals and obey them but do not stop.
Should you be the unfortunate rider who has fallen, if you feel you can do so please move yourself to a safe place. This would preferably be on or beside the nearest tyre wall. Also if you feel capable you may move your bike to the tyre wall; if you cannot move your bike please leave it and get yourself to safety. We will send a recovery vehicle to retrieve your bike once the track has cleared. PLEASE LEAVE YOUR HELMET ON unless you are safely out of harm’s way, such as on top of a tyre wall.
Stunting
There are to be NO burnouts, stoppies or wheelies at California Superbike School.
Fuel
The maximum quantity of fuel permitted is 20L per rider. This is in addition to fuel already in the motorcycle. Bikes are NOT to be refuelled in pit lane or within 5 metres of an ignition source i.e. tyre warmers must be switched off and there is to be no smoking whilst refuelling.
These rules are put in place and enforced for obvious safety reasons. Breaching any of these rules may result in expulsion from the track, and depending on the severity of breach, expulsion from future events.
