Best EBC Brakes for Harley-Davidson make for a podium finish for Gary Byrne

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July 19, 2011

EBC Brakes on podium at BSB meeting again

Oulton Park with its undulating lay out and an assortment of fast and slow corners makes it one of the more physically demanding tracks on the 2011 race calendar; add to that changeable weather conditions, a broken heel, a big Harley XR1200 V twin and you’ve got the ingredients for a very interesting race weekend.

Free practice was in wet conditions and the track was very slippery in places but I was getting perfect feeling from the EBC GPFA pads and hard braking was not an issue for me. I finished the free practice in 5th which I was happy with but was hoping to improve for qualifying. My heel was still causing me problems but not enough to stop me racing the Cheltenham Harley-Davidson XR1200

The afternoon qualifying took place in dry sunny conditions. After six laps I felt I had a handling problem and suspected a slow puncture. On lap nine I was in seventh and wanted to push harder but was unable to due to the bike sliding. As I entered Cascades I had a massive slide with the Harley going side ways. I managed to save it and decided I would have to pit.

Gavin, my race tech, said the primary chain adjuster had come out and oil was leaking onto the back tyre. This meant qualifying was over for me which pushed me back one place to 8th. Thankfully we had until the following afternoon to get the bike repaired.

Gavin made a phone call to Cheltenham Harley-Davidson’s sister shop in Oxford and arranged for the parts we needed to be brought to the track. Early Sunday morning Brad from Oxford Harley-Davidson arrived with the parts. Gavin and Elliott, the unsung heroes of the team, got to work, repaired the the bike, at the same time fitting a new clutch and a new set of tyres.

The weather was changeable but as the morning progressed the rain set in, and by the time my race was out conditions were poor with heavy rain and a fairly strong wind. The race was shortened to five laps because of previous delays and worsening weather.

Once the red lights went out, I got a reasonable start; visibility was bad and there was a lot of standing water, making conditions tricky to say the least.

By the start of lap three I was in fourth, I settled in and closed on third place. We swopped places a few times but I decided to wait until the final lap and make my move on the last corner. I knew the conditions at that part of the track were slippery as the oil flag had been shown most of the race.

As we approached the last corner the other rider took a defensive line but I was prepared for this. I was so confident with the feel of the EBC brakes that I was able to brake on the most slippery line and square the corner off to make the pass and get a better exit. It was then a drag to the line with me taking third place.

Without the dedication and commitment of Gavin and Elliott my race techs who keep the Cheltenham Harley-Davidson in perfect order, the backing of EBC, and their staff, I would not have been on the podium, thank you all very much.

Pictured is Gavin hard at work on my XR1200

My next race is at Brands Hatch on 7th August.

Gary Byrne #44