Motorcycle Training Wanaka, Central Otago – Beginner to advanced

Welcome to Ornsby Motorcycle Training Wanaka. Meet Simon Richards & Matt Bailey, two of our highly professional and fully qualified instructors who provide beginner-to-advanced level training and all licensing services.

Regardless of whether you are an absolute beginner and don’t know a throttle from a piston… or maybe Uncle Stu taught you to ride thirty years ago and you just have a nagging feeling that you could be getting more from your riding – Simon, Matt & Ornsby Motorcycle Training can help you open the road ahead!

 

Simon Richards - Ornsby Motorcycle Training's Wanaka based Instructor

SIMON RICHARDS

WANAKA BASED INSTRUCTOR

  • NZTA Approved Instructor
  • CBTA Assessor
  • Ride Forever Training Provider
  • ITRA Emergency Driving Police Trainer in On-Road, Off-Road & Motorcycle

Simon spent 15 of his 30 years with the NZ Police as the Otago and Southland riding & driving instructor.  Yes!  He trained our local Police in all aspects of their road based skills!  He’s an all round good guy and wants to help you.

MATT BAILEY
WANAKA BASED INSTRUCTOR

  • NZTA Approved Instructor
  • BHST Provider
  • CBTA Assessor
  • Ride Forever Training Provider

Having owned his own aircraft maintenance company and working tirelessly as an Aircraft Engineer through his career, Matt has decided that it’s time to bring that passion and commitment to the the motorcycling community.  We are so happy to have Matt as part of the OMT team.  With his kind heart and quick wit, he keeps everyone entertained.  Matt has a calm teaching style and will help ensure you have a load of fun along the way.

 

 

SERVICES PROVIDED – WAKANA / CROMWELL:

YOUR TEXTBOOK YOUR LEARN TO RIDE OR LICENSE ASSESSMENT

 

YOUR TEXTBOOK YOUR RIDE FOREVER COURSE

 

If you would like to send us an enquiry go to the contact widget at the bottom right of the screen.

 

A WORD FROM SIMON:

I’m 55 years old, born and bred in Dunedin and have recently relocated to Wanaka after completing 30 years of policing.
For the first four years of my police career I worked as a motorcycle officer.
For the last fifteen years I been been the Police riding and driving instructor for the Otago/Southland area.
Motorcycling has always been a passion of mine. Over the years I have been lucky enough to own numerous bikes ranging from  Kawasaki Z1s to the most recent Yamaha R1.
I’m involved in the post classic motorcycle racing scene having regularly competed on tracks throughout NZ. For the last seven years I have represented NZ in the post classic motorcycle team at Phillip Island in Australia.
I am looking forward to helping other people enjoy motorcycling as much as I have.

A WORD FROM MATT:

I’ve always had a love of all things mechanical and as a kid I dreamt of waking up to a motocross bike in my garage.  That finally came true when I got my first bike as a 16year old, much to my parents disgust.  It was a Yamaha RZ250 and it was black and red with a bikini fairing and I thought it was the sexiest two wheeled machine in the whole world.  Unfortunately, I only rode it a couple of times before my parents, rightly so, decided I should sell it.  I needed more experience.

After starting my career as an Aircraft Engineer, I longed to get myself a bike.  It was a few years later however, that I started commuting from Wellington to the Kapiti coast on a Honda VTR250.  I was living the dream.

Then, it was time for a new challenge, so for a period of time, I chased my career all around the world.  From looking after 45 flights a day for Air Nelson at Wellington airport, to having the privilege of working for Sir Tim Wallis at the Alpine Fighter Collection, maintaining 20 WWII aircraft, before my wife and I moved to France to work for a Swiss Airline.   So of course I needed a bike to explore central Europe’s best motorcycling roads.  I chose a VFR750 for the job.

Three years later we were back in Wanaka.  Now with a BMW R80G/S to explore the stunning Central Otago back roads.  Life is good 🙂

This is where I started my own company, building it into a successful aircraft maintenance business, where I could share my experiences and knowledge with young engineers and encourage them to gain their qualifications.

So, how did I become an instructor?  Well, I started taking the Ride Forever courses from Bronze, Silver through to a Gold course every year for the last 6 years and my riding improved quite dramatically every year because of this.  On my last course, my instructor Simon suggested I might like to become an instructor.

What me??  I’m just an average guy on a bike!   I have now completed my Instructor endorsement and am loving teaching.  It’s just so cool to help new riders learn to ride and gain their BHST certificates and prepare for riding on the road.

I’ve just completed my certification so am now also able to assess riders through their CBTA Restricted and Full assessments and present Ride Forever courses.

Having worked tirelessly over my career as an Aircraft Engineer, to keep everyone who flies safe.  It’s time to bring that passion and commitment to the the motorcycling community.  I’m honored to be able to be part of the Ornsby Motorcycle Training team and to do my part in keeping everyone safe and smooth.

Check out what we get up to on our Facebook page >>>>

 

Motorcycle Licensing:

Intermediate & Advanced Rider Training:

Course Dates

About Us
Back to the top