Honda's star MotoGP riders, Dani Pedrosa and Andrea Dovizioso (Repsol Honda), made a pit stop at the manufacturer's world class rider training facility (HART) on the eve of this year's Phillip Island round to show their support of rider training and safety.
Dani and 'Dovi' were both on hand to participate in filming important safety messages for HART, and to tour the facilities of Honda's all-new site located at Somerton in Melbourne's north.
The two 24-year-olds from Spain and Italy respectively, were vocal about the key issues surrounding motorcycle rider safety, particularly considering they both ride at home in Europe during their time off.
"I ride a Honda scooter back home," Dani commented. "It is important to be much more aware when you are riding on the road because people...other drivers....do unexpected things."
"The controls on a motorcycle are much the same, whether you are racing or riding on the road. What is different is the conditions, for instance if it's wet, as well all the extra obstacles you have to watch out for."
"If someone wants to ride a fast bike on the road like they are on a race track, my advice to them is to go and sign up for a track day instead."
"In a way, it is easy to focus when we are on the track because we are going only one direction and there aren't as many distractions. On the road, it is a different story so I think it is very important for all riders to get the kind of training they provide here at HART."
Both riders also had a stint on HARTs Riding Simulator, a state-of-the-art, compact, computer driven, easy-to-use mechanism that puts riders in real life road traffic situations through a wide variety of options.
"This kind of machine is very useful," Dovi said. "It makes you think about all the things that can maybe happen in traffic."
"It's important too that people try and wear the right kind of gear, a proper jacket and gloves at least."
"Our leather suits protect us on the track because they have body armour built in so if a regular rider can get the same from a jacket, it would help them a lot if they do come off."
Honda Australia will be releasing a short video in the near future highlighting Dani and Dovi's visit to HART which will be available on the manufacturer's website as well as various social media sites.
HART operates in Victoria, New South Wales and Queensland and is Australia's leading rider training company delivering state-of-the-art teaching methods to over 17,000 riders each year.
They are the only rider training company in Australia to use rider simulators to improve Hazard Perception. HART is fully owned and run by Honda Australia who, apart from being a subsidiary of the world's largest motorcycle manufacturer, is also one of the world's largest trainers of motorcyclists.
