To enter club races, you need a racing license from a racing organization. It is more approachable than it sounds. Here is how the process generally works.
What a racing license is
A racing license is a club organization's certification that you have the skills and knowledge to race safely alongside others. It is separate from your street motorcycle license. Each organization issues its own, and many offer reciprocity, meaning a license from one club can count toward another.
The new-racer school
The usual path is a new-racer school run by the organization. Over a day (or a weekend), you cover:
- Racing rules, flags, and procedures specific to that club.
- Starts, grid procedure, and racecraft basics.
- On-track evaluation of your control and consistency.
Pass it, complete any required paperwork, and you earn your license. Some clubs also require a number of track days or a track-day organization's advanced group sign-off before you attend.
California organizations
Several established organizations run licensed road racing in California, and we list them in our partner directory:
- CRA (California Roadrace Association): runs club race weekends, including at Buttonwillow, with a new-racer school.
- AFM (American Federation of Motorcyclists): one of the country's oldest amateur racing clubs, with a championship series and license reciprocity.
- AHRMA: the American Historic Racing Motorcycle Association, focused on vintage machines, with road racing among its disciplines.
Always confirm current requirements directly with the organization, since schedules and prerequisites change season to season.
How to prepare
The best preparation for a new-racer school is consistency and clean, predictable riding, which is exactly what a coaching day builds. Coaches who race for a living know what the schools are looking for and can get you sharp before you go.
Ready to ride with a coach?
The fastest way to put this into practice is a coaching day with a pro-racer coach. Bikes are on site.