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Tue, 20 Sep 2011

Blade MotorSport Win 2011 XR1200 Series

DONINGTON PARK

10 / 11 SEPTEMBER 2011

JAMES WEBB #66

PRACTICE:  I tried to forget about the Championship but I knew I was under a lot of pressure.  I did a handful of laps and managed to go P1 so I came in as it started to rain and didn’t bother going back out as I felt good on the bike and had nothing else to try or prove.   I knew my main threats would be Pete Ward and Dijon.

QUALIFYING:  I waited in pit land to get a clear track so I could get my head down from the start.  I was second for all the session and that’s where I ended up behind Pete Ward I was not that worried because all I had to do was finish behind Pete.  We made a few changes with Simon before we went out for Race 1.  I knew where I needed to improve the bike and where I could go faster.

RACE ONE:  After having a debrief with Simon and going with a setting we knew would make things better I knew it was all down to me in the race now.  I was starting from Pole because the grid was decided at Cadwell.  I got of to an ok start but had to be aggressive at turn one.  I was second behind Pete and we broke away, he tried slowing the race down but it didn’t work, we swapped places a few times but then it started to rain a bit so I backed of as I knew all I really had to do was finish second and I had like about a 7 second gap behind me.  I ended up bringing it home in P2 so I would be going into race 2 on Sunday with just a 7 point lead.  I knew I had to finish 2nd to Pete if I was to win the Championship. I was so nervous for the second race as I wanted to win the championship so badly. 

RACE TWO:  After not such a good night sleep due to being nervous and struggling to find somewhere decent to eat also having a road rage situation which ended up involving my dad and little brother I was feeling pretty shi….   The day had come for the finale I stayed so focused all day and chilled with my brother Danny.  Gavin and the boys were double checking everything all day on the bike and a lot of the staff at Blade turned up to watch and I wanted to do them proud.

Everything was done exactly the same as we had in race one as I am so superstitious.  The lights went green and I got of to a good start again tucking in behind Pete Ward I had about 0.4 on Alex Gault the whole race and I knew I had to keep it that way.  Pete tried slowing the race down again but again it didn’t work and I knew a second would be good enough for the title so I kept my pace up and just sat in second to the flag ending up 2 seconds ahead of 3rd place.  I was so scared the bike was going to go wrong and though I kept hearing noises on the last lap the bike didn’t miss a beat.  I bought it home doing exactly what I had planned to do and won the title!!!!!!

I was so happy I wanted it so bad all year and had ups and downs but still managed to pull through.  I really hope this has shown people my potential and that I want to race and win so badly.  I feel that I have matured as a rider and think and plan things a lot more than I used to and I love it. 
I would like to say thank you to everyone for all their help and support however big or little all put together it worked. 

Thanks to:

Shark Helmets
Moto Direct
Jim McNulty
James Reidhaven
Squeeky Clean Mob
Gaerne Boots
Steve Burgess (Danny’s Manager)
Steve Bennett
Horace & Jane and good friends Tim and Troy.
All my friends and Family (Mum, Dad and little Dan)

And of course
The whole of Blade Motor Sport,
My mechanics Gavin, Elliot, Jamie for putting a fantastic bike together and Simon for the suspension.

The whole of the Harley Davidson XR1200 Series Organisers and everyone at BSB

A huge thanks to little brother Danny for being there for me when he could.

Gary Byrne #44

View of season:

It was a relief once it was announced that the Harley-Davidson XR1200 Trophy was going ahead for a second season and that I would again be racing for Blade Motorsport on the Cheltenham Harley-Davidson.

The pervious year on the XR1200 put me in good stead and I felt confident for the new season.

For 2011 the bikes were sporting new paint schemes and my bike made it's first public appearance at the Ace Cafe in London supporting the Evel Knievel Tour.

Pre season testing went well with a special test day at Silverstone where children from Great Ormond Street Hospital came to join me for the day, see the bike and meet the team who were helping to raise money for the hospital.

Thruxton was the venue of the first round where I was able to get onto the podium.

Rounds two and three were at Knockhill, Scotlands premier circuit. Sadly the injuries I sustained in a crash on oil during practice, put me out for the weekend; I had  a broken heel and injured my knee, back, shoulder and chest. These were quite serious and cast doubt over whether I would be racing at the next round, Snetterton. Fortunately I passed the medical and was able to race.

At Oulton Park I was able to get onto the podium again however, I carried the injuries for the rest of the season and was disappointed not to be battling at the front.

Given the circumstances I was happy to end the championship in 7th place.

Special thanks must go to Gavin and Elliott, the race technicians, whose dedication and expertise are second to none. There was no doubt every other team in the championship looked up to them.

Report on Donington double header;

This meeting was a major disappointment from day one. I was dogged with front end handling problems that were to last all weekend and after qualifying, I knew my best chance was if it rained during the race. My hopes were not to be fulfilled, as for race one on the Saturday it was dry but windy and I finished in 7th. Sunday looked like it could start as a wet race with black clouds looming but the wind changed direction and the race was run in dry conditions with only a small shower falling near the Melbourne loop but not enough to make a difference.

I was hoping to end the season on a high but it wasn't to be. Hopefully the series goes ahead next year and I can show my true potential.

I would like to take this opportunity to thank the Blade Group for their support.

Once again I would like to thank Gavin and Elliott  who kept my bike in tip top condition, sometimes burning the midnight oil, not only are they excellent technicians I now consider them to be good friends of mine.

Thank you

Gary Byrne #44

The Official View...

Ward double race win not enough to steal the title from Webb

Pete Ward claimed both race wins in the final round of the 2011 Harley-Davidson XR1200® Trophy  at Donington Park this weekend, but it was not quite enough for the Stratstone Harley-Davidson rider to seal the title in this year’s championship. James Webb settled for two second places in the double header, satisfied that it was enough for the Oxford Harley-Davidson rider to take this year’s title by a narrow margin of two points.

With just 12 points separating Webb from Ward going into the double header and race one reducing the advantage to seven points, the championship victory really did go down to the wire. Race two started with the two contenders demonstrating that they meant business but Dijon Compton threatened to spoil the party aboard the Volvo Trucks-supported XR1200®  machine.

Dijon slotted effortlessly into second position after a strong start from the front row and separated Ward from Webb, with the potential to upset the championship outcome. However, a mistake on the early laps saw Compton go backwards through the grid before retiring prematurely on lap two. The Volvo Trucks-backed rider had already been ruled out of title contention when he failed to finish race one yesterday due to mechanical issues.

However, the battle for supremacy was far from over with Ward and Webb determined to continue to dice for the lead and one of Ward’s Stratstone Harley-Davidson team-mates, Alex Gault, joining them to pose an imminent threat. Scottish rider Gault rode an impressive race to go from the back of the grid to third position, setting the fastest lap of the race in the process.

In the early stages, he closed down on the leading duo and looked to be catching Webb in a show of support for his team-mate. Had Gault succeeded in his bid to take second place, he would have gifted the title to Ward. However, a mistake from the young rider saw the gap between him and Webb widen and the final laps looked to be a done deal for the Oxford Harley-Davidson rider.

Webb kept his cool and rode a confident and consistent race to pass the chequered flag in second before treating the crowd to a jubilant wave. He rides away with a brand new XR1200X® motorcycle or a cash alternative of £5,000. Notable rides were also put in by Torquil Paterson aboard the Edinburgh Harley-Davidson®  motorcycle as he battled with the frontrunners before settling into a comfortable fourth place.

Further down the track, a thrilling scrap took place between the third Stratstone Harley-Davidson machine of Dave Wood, Rob McNealy for Shaw Harley-Davidson and the Warr’s Harley-Davidson of Alex Hutchinson. It was the experienced Wood who emerged victorious to take sixth place across the line, followed by McNealy in sixth and Hutchinson in 7th.

Man of the meeting was awarded to Alex Gault for his fearless battle through the pack.

“It’s been a fantastic weekend, to round off a great year for the series” said Harley-Davidson XR1200 Race Series Manager Ian McLeod. “The tension and excitement has been building through the weekend and with such narrow margins at the top of the standings, there was everything to play for in race two, which gave us some thrilling and exciting racing today.

“Congratulations to James Webb. He has had a strong season, supported by the professional team from Blade Motorsport, who own Oxford and Cheltenham Harley-Davidson. Master technicians Gavin Cupit and Elliott Andrews have turned out a great bike to enable James to show what he’s capable of.”