How it works
We normally ride in 3 or 4 groups, each group with 20 minute turns (exceptions possible):
Green group (with instructor)
Beginners without racetrack experience or quicker riders who would like to learn one thing or another and/or people who want to start at an easy and relaxed pace. In the morning you will go out in small groups divided into their different paces with always about 5 people behind an instructor. Instructor groups overtake each other, but within the group there is absolutely no passing. If a rider misjudged their own speed, or we misjudged the speed of a rider, there is no problem to swap into a quicker or slower group. The instructor can also do a re-grouping.
In the afternoons the green group does free riding without an instructor to further refine the knowledge they have acquired and to look for problems which can be tackled with the instructor the next day. The following rules apply for the green group: overtaking is only allowed with about 2 meters clearance. Working on the racing line is OK but please keep enough clearance from the curbs so a quicker rider can still get through if they can't brake in time.
There is also an organised race for the green group on the last day.
Yellow group (perfection - medium group):
For quicker people with some racetrack experience. Here you will go out on the track on your own without an instructor. For overtaking you should allow a clearance of about 1 meter and also allow clearance to the curbs so that another rider can pass you in an emergency. Everybody should work on their own race line but the line should make sense. I have personally met a "specialist" who crossed my race line from left to right in the middle of the braking zone. After I caught my breath I told him that he should stay on his race line for his and everybody else's sake. He shook his head and answered "That was my line, you have to watch me if you are coming from behind". We would send a rider like this to the instructor group without fail.
Orange group (fast perfection group)
For very fast riders, who don't necessarily want to always be fighting for the last few tenths of a second. For those for whom an enjoyable training is more important than being right at the front. Or for those who are aiming to be at the front, but are still missing the last few tenths of a second. The orange group is the middle ground for the very fast ones from the yellow group, and those from the red group who want to take it a bit easier.
The rule still applies: Caution is more important than lap times! When its not really possible to overtake in the corner, then ease of the throttle and wait for the next safe opportunity!
Red group (perfection - very fast group):
This group is for the professionals and others for whom a fair fight is the icing on the cake. The rider should have sufficient racetrack experience. You shouldn't be surprised and scared and fall from your bike if somebody overtakes you with only 10cms clearance. Even if somebody in front of you closes the door, you should be able to think of something else and not crash into the back of the other rider, or run off into the gravel (even though the last option is the better of the two). However, here you also still have to be respectful of the riders in front. Please only overtake other riders with body contact if its someone you know very well and who you are certain won't mind.
Final Race:
All races are transponder-timed.
