🏁 Why UK Motorcycle Trackdays Are Struggling (and Why You Should Still Do One Anyway)

By Ben Grayson – Get Ben Riding

Trackdays used to be the thing.You’d rock up at stupid o’clock, armed with a flask of coffee, a van full of tools you wouldn’t touch, and a sportsbike that you swore would “just stay standard this year.”

But lately? It feels like the UK trackday scene’s on life support.

A few organisers have folded, attendance is down, and yet — Euro trackdays are booming.

So what’s going on? Why are UK trackdays struggling when blasting around a racetrack on your own bike should be the most fun you can have with your leathers on?

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🌧️ Let’s Start with the Obvious — The Weather

We live in Britain. It rains sideways half the year.

There’s nothing worse than dropping £250 on a trackday, loading the van, driving three hours to Donington, and waking up to a soggy paddock and 8°C wind chill.

You grit your teeth, do two sessions, convince yourself the rear’s sliding because you’re “on the limit,” then load up early and head home.

Compare that with a Euro trackday — four or five days in Spain, guaranteed sun, smooth tarmac, and beer that doesn’t cost £8 a pint. No wonder people are heading abroad.

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🔊 The Noise Police

Noise limits are killing the vibe.

Once upon a time, you could take your Akrapovic’d R1 to Brands Hatch, make everyone’s ears bleed, and still pass.

Now?You’ll fail a static test for breathing too heavily near the exhaust.

Most UK circuits are limited to 102 dB — and that’s static, not drive-by.

So all the lads who’ve just spent a fortune on full systems and race maps are now forced to refit stock cans or risk being black-flagged before they’ve even hit second gear.

Meanwhile, the same bikes are running flat-out at Aragón and Almeria with no issues.

It’s hard to sell people a £200 “noise-limited” experience when they could spend the same money in Spain and actually use their throttle.

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💸 The Cost of Thrills

It’s not just weather and noise — it’s money.

Trackdays aren’t cheap anymore:

• Entry fees £180–£250

• Fuel for the van and bike £100+

• Tyres £300 a set

• Hotel, food, travel — another £150 easy

That’s £500+ for a single day, not counting wear and tear.

Ten years ago you could do a full UK trackday for £120.

Now, a Euro trip to Cartagena works out at about the same cost per day, with sunshine, guaranteed dry laps, and half the stress.

If you’re going to burn money, you might as well get a tan doing it.

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👴 The Ageing Rider Base

Here’s the other thing: the average UK trackday paddock looks like a Saga holiday on slicks.

The average rider age is pushing 50+. There’s nothing wrong with that — but it tells a story.

Younger riders aren’t coming through.

Why?Because by the time you’ve paid £1,500 for insurance, £1,000 for your licence, £4,000 for a 125, and £15,000 for a 600, there’s nothing left for trackdays.

And most new riders are starting on A2-friendly bikes — which, let’s face it, aren’t exactly built for Cadwell Park heroics.

Add to that the shrinking sportsbike market — fewer new models, higher prices, and more upright “sport touring” designs — and suddenly the whole entry pipeline dries up.

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🔧 Tyres and Other Wallet Drainers

Tyres used to last you a few days.

Now, with grippier compounds, more electronics, and heavier bikes, they’re toast after one event.

A fresh set of Supercorsas or slicks is £300–£400. That’s every time if you’re chasing lap times or doing a hot summer weekend.

For the average rider, that’s unsustainable.

You can only justify so many “trackdays” to your other half before the shared bank account starts blinking red.

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🏟️ Silverstone Says No

And then there’s Silverstone — one of the UK’s most iconic circuits, now with no public bike days.

The home of British motorsport. The track every biker dreams of riding.

And we’re not allowed.

They cite safety and logistics, but the reality is simple: bikes don’t make them enough money.

It’s a sad statement when the national circuit of the UK would rather host a corporate Tesla event than a grid full of riders living their dream.

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📉 The Result?

A handful of trackday companies have gone bust or scaled right back.

Margins are tight, insurance costs are up, and the overheads keep rising while attendance drops.

Meanwhile, Euro trackday operators are thriving.People are booking five-day packages to Jerez for the same total cost as two soggy days at Snetterton — and who can blame them?

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🏍️ Why You Should Still Do UK Trackdays Anyway

Despite all that — here’s the thing.

Trackdays are still worth it.

They’re where you:

• Learn real bike control — braking, cornering, throttle discipline.

• Get faster safely — no speed cameras, no tractors, no white vans pulling out.

• Build confidence — especially if you’re new or nervous on the road.

• Meet good people — track paddocks are full of decent riders who’ll help, lend tools, and cheer you on.

• Have a laugh — it’s pure adrenaline, pure fun.

The road’s getting busier, angrier, and less forgiving. On track, you can just ride.

If you’ve never done one, book one. You don’t need to be Rossi — just turn up, listen to the briefings, and take it steady.

It might be the best day you ever have on two wheels.

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💭 Final Thought

UK trackdays might be struggling, but they’re not dead.They’re just evolving — and right now, Euro trips are stealing the spotlight.

But if we stop supporting the UK scene, it’ll disappear completely. And once it’s gone, it won’t come back.

So yeah, the weather sucks, the noise limits are stupid, and the bills are high — but that first clean lap when everything clicks?That’s worth every penny.

What do you think?