Guides · Bikes · Checked 10 September 2026
Step by step
- 1
Join a racing club
Pick an ACU-affiliated road racing club and join as a member. Bemsee (BMCRC), for example, asks new riders to register on its site and buy 2026 membership before doing the licence courses.bemsee.net
- 2
Complete the Competitor Training Course (CTC)
The CTC covers the rules of the sport, safety procedures, flags and race procedures. It is delivered online via Zoom and finishes with a multiple-choice assessment.acu.org.uk
- 3
Pass the Basic Rider Assessment (BRA)
The BRA is a practical assessment at a circuit, with on- and off-track sessions and full race-start practice. Book it through an organiser on the ACU calendar (venues include Mallory Park, Darley Moor, Cadwell, Brands Hatch, Donington Park, Snetterton, Anglesey and Three Sisters) and bring your completed licence application form and photo.acu.org.uk
- 4
Apply for your licence
Create an ACU profile on Sport80 and apply for your first licence, uploading the medical questionnaire, optician's eye report, photo and proof of residency, then pay the licence fee.bemsee.net
- 5
Get compliant kit and a Novice-eligible bike
You need a one-piece leather suit, ACU gold-stamp helmet, leather boots and gloves, plus the orange Novice vest from the ACU. Your bike must be within the capacity limit for your age and licence grade.acu.org.uk
- 6
Enter your first club meeting
Enter a club race meeting as a Novice. After satisfactory results on 10 separate race days at 3 different circuits (within the current and preceding two years) you can apply to upgrade to Clubman and drop the orange vest.acu.org.uk
The licence
ACU Novice licence
ACU Road Race Competition Licence – Novice grade (Intermediate Novice if you hold a full category A DVLA licence)
Complete the ACU Competitor Training Course (online, live via Zoom) and the Basic Rider Assessment (practical, on track at a circuit), be a member of an ACU-affiliated club, then apply online through the ACU's Sport80 system with a medical questionnaire, an optician's eye report, a photo, proof of residency and your DVLA licence if you have one.
£98 competition licence fee for 2026, including personal accident insurance (ACU announcement, 5 November 2025). CTC/BRA course fees are charged separately by course providers.
Official licence page · acu.org.ukKit you need
- Helmet — Must carry the current ACU gold stamp, be in sound condition and properly fitted.acu.org.uk
- Leather suit — One-piece leathers at least 1.2mm thick (two-piece suits zipped at the waist are not permitted), padded at shoulders, elbows, torso sides and hips, back and knees.acu.org.uk
- Boots — Leather or approved material, at least 200mm high, with no skin exposed between suit and boot.acu.org.uk
- Gloves — Leather protective gloves, with no skin exposed between suit wrist and glove.acu.org.uk
- Orange Novice vest — Compulsory for Novice and Intermediate Novice licence holders; obtained from the ACU licence department.acu.org.uk
- Identification disc — Worn around the neck during practice and racing, marked with your full name and date of birth.acu.org.uk
What it costs
| Item | Figure | Source |
|---|---|---|
| ACU competition licence (2026) | £98 | acu.org.uk |
| CTC + BRA in one day at Three Sisters, Wigan (PDMCC, 2026) | £155 all-in | pdmcc.racing |
| CTC + BRA course (No Limits Racing, 2026 page) | From £195 | nolimitsracing.co.uk |
| No Limits Racing club membership (2026) | £49 | nolimitsracing.co.uk |
| NG Road Racing annual membership (as listed September 2026) | £30 adults, £10 minors | ngroadracing.co.uk |
Published figures from the sources shown, checked on the date above. Prices change; confirm with the organiser before you book.
Your first event
Coming up: go and watch one first
Motorcycle racing: questions people ask
What licence do I need for motorcycle racing in the UK?
An ACU Road Race Competition Licence. First-time applicants must complete the Competitor Training Course and the Basic Rider Assessment before they can apply, and start at Novice grade.
Do I need a road motorcycle licence to go racing?
No. The Novice grade is the entry level for all first-time applicants. If you hold a full category A DVLA licence you are issued an Intermediate Novice licence, which from 18 allows unlimited-capacity machines.
How long do I have to wear the orange bib?
Until you upgrade to Clubman. That needs satisfactory results on 10 separate race days at 3 different circuits within the current and preceding two years.
How old do you have to be to start motorcycle road racing?
The ACU's 2025 regulations allow solo licences from 13 on small-capacity machines, with larger classes opening up with age. Under-18s must be accompanied by a parent or legal guardian at every meeting.
Can I do a road race on a one-day licence?
No. The ACU states that One Event Licences are not issued for road race events, so you need a full annual licence.
Sources, checked 2026-09-10: acu.org.uk · acu.org.uk · bemsee.net · acu.org.uk · acu.org.uk · pdmcc.racing · nolimitsracing.co.uk · nolimitsracing.co.uk · ngroadracing.co.uk. Rules and fees change; the governing body’s own page is always the final word.