Training Consultants

Advanced Riding Consultant & Motorcycle Instructor

I am a retired Chief Inspector; Having worked for West Midlands Police for 32 years in total. During my tenure, I have been able to experience a range of Driving and Motorcycle disciplines that have increased my knowledge around all things motorised; and enhanced my driver skills to a very high standard.

These skills include advanced graded driving and motorcycling, Pursuit training and management, Convoy and escort duties. Also covert driving techniques to name but a few. I have held those advanced disciplines for 26 years.

I have been riding motorcycles since 1994. Since obtaining my police motorcycle grade in 2000, I had been actively working as an observer for West Midlands Bikesafe up until my retirement in 2020.

Promoting road safety and providing insight into what it takes to ride safely on all types of roads. This has extended into the private sector working alongside RMT Motorcycle Training as an associate for Take Control (initial basic advanced riding skills) and first phase ERS training.

In addition to this, I have completed CBT motorcycle instructor training with a view to extending what I have learnt over time to those just starting out on their two wheeled journey.

I have a passion for outdoor life and outdoor adventures of all types. I have completed a 4000 mile journey around Europe, driven across America and much more. I enjoy motorcycle touring and have helped out as an advanced instructor on a number of European Tours in the past decade.

I have recently walked across England from coast to coast. I believe life is about adventure no matter what guise it takes. Learning how to do these things safely is an important component in enjoying any trip you choose to undertake.

My first bike was a Honda CBR 600. A scary move having just passed my DVSA basic motorcycle test.

I remember just looking at it for hours when it was delivered thinking “how am I supposed to ride that.” That soon passed and once I got used to it I was hooked.

A word of warning mind! With that inexperience came disaster. During winter riding I ran out of talent resulting in a high side almost destroying the bike. I learnt some valuable lessons that day!

Most importantly, making sure that my insurance was fit for purpose. I made the mistake of having third party fire and theft rather than fully comprehensive.

I found out that building bikes out of your own pocket is not for the faint hearted!

I have had a number of bikes since then; including a Suzuki RMX 250, Kawasaki 7x7R, 2x Honda Blackbirds, Kawasaki ZX10r, Kawasaki ZZR1400 and my current bike of choice BMW GSA1200.

Most people think that making progress is about speed. When actually it’s about planning. Learning the language of the road is a key skill in getting you from A to B in the safest possible way.

I really enjoy passing on the skills that I have been so fortunate to experience in my time in the police. Passing on my knowledge to those just starting out to those with a few miles under their belt is a passion and a privilege.

We are never too old to learn new techniques. I have recently finished an off road driving course that should equip me in the future when I take my driving adventures to the next level.

I have seen the devastation that road traffic collisions cause. Inappropriate, inconsiderate, dangerous and reckless driving can easily be avoided with the proper training and understanding of what it takes to be responsible on our roads.

I take pride in knowing that what I teach is able to educate people and change the way in which they look at their own riding technique. Which in turn means that the likelihood of them returning home to their loved ones at the end of the day is increased.

What’s not to like about that?

Advanced Riding Consultant

I started riding motorcycles in1985 on L plates as cheap transport for a year, I returned to riding when I passed my bike test in 1994. Riding was a leisure activity but I made myself ride in bad weather as I think that it improves your general riding skills.

Motorcycling was an on-off affair as bikes were a luxury rather than a necessity back then. I have owned many bikes from my first Yamaha RS100, Yamaha 535 Virago, Harley Davidson 1200 Sportster, Kawasaki ZZR600, Kawasaki GPz500, Honda VFR400, Cagiva Mito, Ducati Monster, Suzuki RF600, Suzuki TL1000S, Cagiva Elefant 900, Triumph 995i Sprint ST and Triumph 1200 Tiger Explorer. I have loved them all, sadly most had to give way to home improvements or the like at one time or another!

I became a police officer in 2001 always hoping to join the traffic unit. My career has seen me move from my initial role as response officer to tutor constable in 2005 and I also took up a training role for personal safety training later that year. I really enjoyed training others and find it really rewarding. I moved to the traffic unit in 2007.

In 2006 I took my first steps into Advanced Motoring gaining my Advanced Police Driver qualification, subsequently followed up with Tactical Pursuit and Containment, known as “TPAC” in the force.

My time in the Traffic Department has seen me qualify as an advanced vehicle examiner and in 2011 a Family liaison Officer for serious and fatal road traffic collisions. In 2015, I was a founding member of the first dedicated Family Liaison Unit in the UK. Since that time my main role in the police has been family liaison where I have supported over 140 families. This role allows me to see the importance of road safety regarding driver and rider training.

I was fortunate enough to be offered a standard police motorcycle course shortly after joining traffic. I passed that in 2010, followed shortly afterwards by an off-road motorcycle course.

In 2013 I passed my advanced police motorcycle course, which is a tough and demanding course. In 2019 I attended and passed the National Protection Police Escort course. This has allowed me to escort VIP’s, such as the Prime Minister and various members of the Royal Family when they visit our force area. Most recently in 2021 I was posted to the COP26 climate conference in Glasgow, where my team provided escort duties to the Royal Family and other dignitary personnel.

One of the most rewarding things about my police motorcycling is that I get to share the skills I have learnt with the public through Bike Safe and other training courses. This allows me to explain how, with some commitment and proper training an average biker like me, can attain a high level of competence and confidence on a motorbike.

Advanced riding not only teaches you bike control but also the information that you obtain and use. Such as, improved observation, better use of gears and speed, better bend assessment, acceleration sense and I feel. It greatly heightens your judgement, planning and decision making.

If you would have spoken to me before I had this training. I would have laughed at you if you told me I would have achieved the level I have, but with hard work anyone can improve and attain a high level of competence. All of the issues and confidence knocks that people get, I have had them too and I use those experiences to understand my students’ thoughts and fears. My understanding of my own errors, ensures I am able to help my students progress.

I realise that I have been fortunate to receive such a high level of training from some excellent instructors. I hope that I can help other riders improve their skills and keep them keen on motorcycling and safe on the road to really enjoy their own experience.

I have been recognised with numerous awards and commendations throughout my career.

From dealing with and disarming a suicidal person armed with a kitchen knife, my work as a personal safety trainer, several awards for my work as a family liaison offer including a nomination for a national BRAKE road safety family award.

I have also gained Team of the year award with my colleagues on the Family Liaison Unit.

In 2016 I received a Chief Constables award for being part of the team that provided Bike Safe courses.

However, one of my treasured possessions is a letter sent to our Chief Constable from Wing Commander “Harry” Palmer, Chief Flying Instructor and Examiner at the Defence Helicopter School, Shawbury, where he commended the Bike Safe course and thanked me for, and I quote, “really sharp coaching out on the roads”.

Advanced Riding Consultant & Motorcycle Instructor

Mohammed Khan is a retired police officer who has a wealth of experience from his service of over 29yrs.

IAM-Roadsmart member for over 26yrs and IAM National Observer.

He is also qualified by DVSA to conduct CBT and Direct access training.

He was involved in delivering Bikesafe rider assessment’s from 2007- 2017 which involved helping seasoned riders review their riding as part of the road safety initiative.

He also works with major brands like Audi, Bentley, BMW and Rolls Royce chauffeuring captains of industry to events such as Goodwood, Goodwood Revival, Baftas, TV personality awards and other major events where high standards are required for brand promotion.

Mohammed is also a qualified Yoga instructor and has used these skills to help many with anxiety, focus and control their emotions during stressful test conditions with positive outcomes for students.

Police advanced car driver and Police Grade 1 Motorcyclists, who was involved with advanced rider development since 1991.

Mohammed is also a qualified ARDS instructor for race car instruction on all UK circuits and holds an international C race licence.

He has conducted thousands of assessments both on two wheels and four assisting individuals and companies review liabilities and improve safety standards.

Advanced Riding Consultant - RoSPA & IAM Examiner

I am a local advanced riding examiner and I do so for both The Institute of Advanced Motorists and RoSPA. I have been an examiner over 30 years and on a rough count I’ve conducted about 1500 civilian advanced motorcycle tests. I will add that, in that whole time I’ve only had three unscheduled and unauthorised dismounts (that’s people who fell off trying too hard to impress!). I’ve enjoyed every second of validating, or not, the quality of riders presented to me but what still drives me to do it?

I moved on through FS1E mopeds, Superdreams, 400/4 Hondas, Kawasaki Z1000 and I even built a Harris Magnum which I turbo charged. Moving on I had dozens of other machines before buying one of the first Triumph 595 machines and then a succession of Yamaha R1s before settling onto a BMW S1000RR in 2010.

To date I’ve had five of these stunning machines and still ride one to this day. I don’t often use it on test because I have a trusty old pre Vtec VFR800Fi for that purpose which has a much better build quality even if it doesn’t have the computing trickery of the BMW which I’m sure would fly itself to Mars if I could only programme the route into the sat nav!

In 1992 I was one of three serving police traffic motorcyclists to start an advanced motorcycle club, which to this day is still one of the largest in the country, The Birmingham Advanced Motorcyclists. The demand was certainly there and the enthusiasm from local bikers was staggering. Over the years we’ve had some exceptional riders and some not so but everyone to a man, or woman, has improved.

As you can see I live for motorcycling and motorcycle training because I absolutely believe and know advanced training works and can be backed up with stats.

We examine because we want to maintain the standards we believe in and the standard your insurance company wants to reward you for. We want to see you ride well and we do it for no other reason than to encourage you to do more and applaud your efforts if you meet our high standards.

Believe me it’s not an easy thing to do and certainly not one you’re likely to achieve alone by reading Roadcraft. We all had an immense amount of guidance to develop our skills. We have all been through the stress of a test (many many tests) and we feel your pain. We also know the elation and sheer pleasure you get from achieving your goal and it’s great to see.

Oh and I forgot to say, you’ll have less wear and tear on your bike, you’ll have a much larger circle of like minded friends to give you a reason/excuse to ride. You’ll enjoy your ride alot more because, guess what? Statistically you’re less likely to get nicked or crash your beloved bike, because guess what? You’ll be riding WITH and LIKE the cops and highly trained riders.

We, the examiners, want you to pass and we want to see you riding a bike ‘properly’, and that doesn’t mean fluorescent jackets and having to wear a cardigan. We want to see you ride progressively, accurately and safely with dynamic and appropriate reaction to potential danger.

We are petrol heads just like you. Do it! You know it makes sense.

I joined West Midlands Police in 1980 and from the off I was in awe of police riders and the skills they had plus the job they did in trying to prevent road death.

I could see that the job was inherently risky due to the nature of work, road environments and the speeds they often carried in those danger zones.

It was clear that with the sheer mileage they covered in this fashion that their ‘relative’ lack of demise was not due to luck alone.

Don’t get me wrong, even the ‘best’ had accidents but not with the frequency you’d think.

I fought tooth and nail to get on a course to learn police ‘System’ riding and was hooked from the first time I ventured out with a highly experienced, super critical and constructive instructor who clearly had occupational competence and could help me.

The rest as they say is history and I vowed to do all I could to spread that word far and wide because ‘IT WORKS’.

The story started long before that though, in fact approx 20 years before aged five on a monkey bike on Morecambe beach in Lancashire with my Dad.

I crashed a lot but I was on sand and I bounced well.

In 1994 I joined the force driving school as an instructor and I cannot tell you how good that job is. Imagine a job where you ride 200 to 250 miles a day for 10 years and all you have to do is seek the best roads and ride them to the best of your ability in company with other like minded souls?

I’ve tested and trained many hundreds of police riders including training the successive instructors. During that time I also instructed on off-road bikes and we went to the Yamaha and KTM schools to be taught by the best, Geraint Jones and Adie Smith and the like.

I had a spell racing CB500s in the Thundersport series finishing 7th in my first season out of about 40. Not bad I thought but the leap to top 5 has to be seen to be believed! I also have instructed on tracks for the IAM, Kawasaki, BMW rider skills and the European Superbike School. Wheelie schools and stunt schools with the likes of Craig Jones followed as the passion evolved.

Police riding courses were only previously available to officers but then the police decided to start a scheme called Bikesafe, which is an introduction to advanced riding. I have run that course since its inception in the Midlands and present at the Motorcycle Show at the NEC every year..

Advanced Riding Consultant & Motorcycle Instructor

Laura passed her full motorcycle licence in July 2012 and embarked on her first European Tour in September 2012. She was flying high and loving her new found hobby. However, she experienced her first accident the following year, in July 2013. Plunging her into turmoil and self doubt in her riding ability.

Fast forward 2 years after a lot of hard work and undergoing advanced training, she overcame her fears and self doubt to gain both her ERS (Enhanced Rider Scheme) and her first advanced qualification as an IAM Advanced Rider.

She continued to make progress with more European tours, giving her the opportunity to ride at a higher level with Advanced Instructor and tour leader Simon Hayes. Laura was inspired by Simon’s incredible riding skills at both high and low speed and his attitude towards learning. Wanting to feel as confident as Simon, she knew that she required time and practice in the saddle.

After hearing about so many horror stories amongst her female students, she is passionate about improving industry standards and road safety amongst all riders. Laura has created diagrams and Lesson Plans for CBT, DAS and ERS training for new and existing Motorcycle Instructors.

Laura enlists the respect of her peers as a Motorcycle Instructor and Advanced Rider. She has an extremely thorough and methodical training style, making her a first choice for so many students. Her passion for skill over speed, attracts both men and women seeking professional training, without bravado or intimidation.

Laura is a high-level advanced rider and over the years, she’s developed a process driven and pinpoint accurate riding style. She is constantly striving for perfection and the need to improve her own ability.

Several more tours and a RoSPA Gold advanced test under her belt, saw Laura move into a Tour Guide and Advanced Instructor role with RMT Motorcycle Training, gaining experience as a group leader, marshalling and route planning.

Meanwhile, her Motorcycle Instructor journey started just 4 years after passing her test, in 2016. She gained experience as a CBT Down Trained Instructor and a low level Advanced Trainer in 2016. By 2017, she was a fully qualified DAS and ERS Instructor.

Laura started Women Only Motorcycle Training in 2016, specifically designed for women riders at post test level. After having a negative experience with her peers whilst struggling with her confidence (post crash), she felt there was a need to support and improve experiences for women in riding.

Women Only Motorcycle Training has grown from strength to strength and includes UK tours, Off-road experiences and Advanced training packages. She also attracts students from all over the country, wanting to enrol in her bespoke 2 day CBT courses, with RMT Motorcycle Training.

Advanced Riding Consultant & RoSPA Examiner

At present Mark is a dedicated Police Sergeant with over 23 years of Policing experience. Known for going above and beyond job requirements to make a lasting impact on the department and the public. Exceptional integrity, leadership and problem-solving abilities.

Mark’s current role involves supervising a team of nineteen constables within the Road Policing Unit of West Midlands Police.

As a department they respond to all serious and fatal road traffic collisions in the West Midlands. As a lead investigator Mark is responsible for co-ordinating investigations from the beginning to an ultimate conclusion. The department also provides the pursuit capability across the West Midlands and due to this he is advanced trained in tactical pursuit and containment.

Another high level responsibility is looking after any VIP’s that come to the West Midlands. Mark and his team are trained VIP motorcycle escorts and have looked after members of the Royal Family and members of Parliament visiting the area. He and his team have also attended various deployments in London as well as the recent G7 Summit in Cornwall where Mark led a team of motorcyclists. They were responsible for looking after various protected persons, including the US Secretary of State and the Canadian Prime Minister.

During the past twenty three years with West Midlands Police Mark has attended various courses in relation to Public Order, Roads Policing and surveillance, this has given him a wealth of experience across many areas of Policing.

He is currently one of the internal pool of coaches within West Midlands Police and in this role provides coaching support to numerous staff members for a variety of reasons.

To add to his experience Mark is also a Roads Policing Tactical Advisor and in this role he provides support for Commanders during large Policing Operations.

Since 2019 Mark has been a consultant to RoSPA and has made critical changes to the RoSPA Diploma for Advanced Riding Instructor Course. These changes were necessary to modernise and uplift the course in order to make it current and fit for purpose.

By using his skills and experience he advised on course content for all classroom work, including PowerPoints presentations, road based training delivery along with suggested learning outcomes for customers attending the RoSPA Diploma Course.

Because of his intervention and attention to detail, it is now a level 3 qualification. It is a huge success in its own right and is held in high regard in the motorcycle industry.

Mark also writes monthly articles in the RoSPA ‘Care on the Road’ magazine, writing about relevant topics in relation to advanced motorcycling. He also answers questions from the readership and provides advice on advanced riding techniques and best practice.

Mark has also provided Accreditation for numerous organisations both Nationally and Internationally. These courses are mainly in the Emergency Services Driving sector. In this capacity he has made recommendations for improvements to ensure that organisations are delivering a product worthy enough to have RoSPA’s name providing accreditation to it.

RoSPA Advanced Drivers & Riders – South West England

Mark is also responsible for coordinating six advanced driving and riding groups across Devon, Cornwall and Avon & Somerset.

In this role he sends out a monthly newsletter as well as hosting online meetings involving all groups in order to keep them updated and allow information to be shared amongst them.

He also attends group meetings and delivers talks providing information and best practice in relation to advanced driving & riding.

Mark provides a vital link between the groups and RoSPA HQ.

Advanced Riding Instructor

RoSPA & Freelance – Nationally & Internationally

Part of this role includes delivery of advanced rider training on behalf of RoSPA both in the UK and abroad.

As a holder of the Level 4 in Advanced Driver Behavioural Instruction he also trains the Level 3 Advanced Riding Instructor course on behalf of RoSPA. He is also an examiner of the level 3 courses and provides accurate test reports at their conclusion.