I just did the phase I at the FAST riding school in Shannonville Ontario.  What an awesome experience!  For those of you living in Ontario Canada, I highly recommend making the trip to Shannonville.  The cost of the course is about $500 and worth every penny.  Basically you get some in-class training and 6 sessions of track riding throughout the day.  Included, is the bike and all riding gear.  The instructors were great and give you feedback after each session.  The emphasis is always on safety and learning the basics before going fast.  Although if you want to go fast there's opportunity for that too.

They also have phases II, III and R.  There's still some spaces left this year but only if you have your own bike.  

I was riding the SV650.  Everyone else was riding GSXR's or R6's but on this short track the SV rules.


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I should include the link for the school ...

http://www.fastridingschool.com/english/index.html

$500 CAN, bike and gear included?  Man!

What about liability, though, if a participant stuffs the bike and messes up the gear?

That price includes insurance against the bike and gear but the deductible is $2 000.  For an extra $90 you can get the deductible reduced to $275.

Seattle is a long way from Belleville but if you travel to Toronto for any reason it's about 2 hours from there.  Also, I heard they sometimes go to Calgary which would be a little closer for you.  

Have you checked out schools in CA?