Renaissance Racing

Bertie Simmonds

April 3, 2023

Want to ride some classic 1990s race-replicas on your favourite tracks? Then check out Renaissance Racing.

Renaissance Racing have a five bike fleet for 2023: the Ducati 996, Suzuki GSX-R750 SRAD, Yamaha YZF750, Honda SP-1 and Kawasaki ZX7-R Offering enthusiasts the chance to experience these ‘modern classics’ at circuits across the UK and further afield.

The bikes have been painstakingly prepared by ‘Renaissance Man’ Kieran Hatton. Ren Racing’s experience days are circuit based, they are not just for the dedicated track-day goer but open to riders of almost all abilities. A normal day will see riders arrive, meet Kieran and head off to sign on. There is a familiarisation and safety brief specific to the bikes, as well as the usual and compulsory track briefing. Across the day participants ride three bikes across the six/seven sessions of the day: normally a V-twin and two, four cylinder 750s.

The bikes are all track prepared with uprated and modernised brakes, refreshed and/or replaced suspension and the motors sing like they always did. Tyres are track oriented Dunlops, using warmers to maximise enjoyment time. Bike wise everything is taken care of, riders just ride, as ‘full factory’ as most of us will ever get.

Riders do require a certain level of riding kit for day but Ren Racing are currently working on a partnership with an equipment supplier to be able to offer boots, leathers and gloves etc. Cost for the day’s hire is £450 plus the track-day cost. Full Ts & Cs are on the website at: www.renracing.com

About the Author

Bertie Simmonds

As a child Bertie (well, Robert back then… blame his sister for the nickname) was exposed to motorcycles thanks to his uncles. They would show up at his house with a lovely lady as pillion throughout the 1970s and 1980s. After a naughty time on field bikes (it’s what we did back then) Bertie passed his test in the early 1990s and became a reporter for MCN in 1995, moving to the sports desk and covering World Superbikes in 1996. With a change to Bike Magazine in 1997, he stayed until 2000 as news, features and road test editor. Moving into PR with Cosworth, Bert was bored with cars and returned to bikes in 2001 with Two Wheels Only, becoming editor in 2002 and leaving to be freelance at the end of 2004. With almost a decade freelancing, Bertie joined Mortons in 2013 and became editor of Classic Motorcycle Mechanics, a post he’s desperately clung to, to this day. And no, he’s never had a pretty girl on the back of his bike. BSimmonds@mortons.co.uk

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