FMT & AMT for 2020
Posted: Thu Mar 05, 2020 7:19 pm
Some Members may be aware that I had to cancel last year’s July FMT due to a lack of interest. To add insult to injury, October’s FMT was also cancelled as we had just two Member’s who wanted to participate but their riding abilities weren’t matched and wouldn’t have worked. I introduced FMT’s to the Group way back when our governing body had little interest in motorcycle training apart from increasing their membership. Maintaining or improving rider standards, post test, was not on their agenda.
Never before have I found it necessary to cancel an FMT. In my experience, anything that’s worth doing is worth doing to the best of your ability and requires constant practice to maintain. So what’s changed?
Riding a motorcycle well is a prime example. It’s not only exhilarating, it’s immense fun. Make mistakes though and you can soon be history. EAMG’s Observers are required to hold a current RoSPA Gold Certificate before they can be considered for training. Once qualified, which can take up to a year or so, they are required to undergo two yearly assessments by an EAMG Senior Observer Assessor (SOA), covering riding ability, communication, briefing and de-briefing skills. In turn, the SOA’s undergo a full day’s assessment, externally of the Group, by a Police Class: 1 motorcyclist. As if that isn’t enough, all Observer’s are required to attend a minimum of two out of four Peer to Peer rides organised each year. Having declared independence in January 2005, EAMG became known as the ‘Renegade Group’. Ask any examiner from our region about EAMG standards these days and you’ll find we are highly regarded.
I do confess to being disheartened at the lack of interest but sincerely value the comments made by Members elsewhere on this forum. All EAMG Observers are passionate about their riding. We ride thousands of miles each year providing some of the best training available to both Full and Associate Members. We will continue to run Full Member Training for those wishing to maintain their riding standards and pleased to confirm we are re-introducing Associate Member Training so be sure to check T.U.G. for details and application form.
John Tipper
Never before have I found it necessary to cancel an FMT. In my experience, anything that’s worth doing is worth doing to the best of your ability and requires constant practice to maintain. So what’s changed?
Riding a motorcycle well is a prime example. It’s not only exhilarating, it’s immense fun. Make mistakes though and you can soon be history. EAMG’s Observers are required to hold a current RoSPA Gold Certificate before they can be considered for training. Once qualified, which can take up to a year or so, they are required to undergo two yearly assessments by an EAMG Senior Observer Assessor (SOA), covering riding ability, communication, briefing and de-briefing skills. In turn, the SOA’s undergo a full day’s assessment, externally of the Group, by a Police Class: 1 motorcyclist. As if that isn’t enough, all Observer’s are required to attend a minimum of two out of four Peer to Peer rides organised each year. Having declared independence in January 2005, EAMG became known as the ‘Renegade Group’. Ask any examiner from our region about EAMG standards these days and you’ll find we are highly regarded.
I do confess to being disheartened at the lack of interest but sincerely value the comments made by Members elsewhere on this forum. All EAMG Observers are passionate about their riding. We ride thousands of miles each year providing some of the best training available to both Full and Associate Members. We will continue to run Full Member Training for those wishing to maintain their riding standards and pleased to confirm we are re-introducing Associate Member Training so be sure to check T.U.G. for details and application form.
John Tipper