Imagine that you’re 18 and that you’ve never ridden a Harley before. That you are just about to put your leg over an XR1200. And it’s a Race Spec XR1200 from renowned specialist builder Harris. You’re on a race track – which, by the way, is the world famous Brands Hatch circuit. Nervous? Good. Now, take a deep breath, you’re up against racing legend Jeremy McWilliams.

Welcome to the world of Harley-Davidson’s XR1200 Trophy race series which will see young contenders pitted against former Grand Prix racers.

Yes – it’s good news. Since the last issue of American-V went to press, there have been two significant developments which have had me getting very excited.

First off, Harley-Davidson needed a minimum of 16 bikes to sign up for the series to actually take place. It’s now early April and the total is 24, so not only is the series going ahead, but there’ll be some strength and depth to the racing.

Secondly, over the last few weeks the teams have named their riders and the announcement that former GP racers Jeremy McWilliams and Sean Emmett are definitely riding (for Warr’s Racing and Riders of Bristol and Bridgewater respectively) will raise the profile of the series massively in the eyes of traditional race fans and ensure high expectations and, hopefully, decent audiences.

This could have made a few waves amongst the less well-known racers signed up for the series, but no. Some might have started out by doing their local Harley dealer a favour and getting a ride at five British Superbike events into the bargain, but they are now going to be racing against some seriously famous names. And they’re not intimidated: it turns out the younger riders are all-too keen to take on the older generation, to see if youth can triumph over experience.

The official BSB test date at the Brands Hatch circuit was held on 17th March and several XR1200 teams turned up to put the bikes through their paces alongside the Superbike and Supersport teams.

The series regulations and technical specifications are being finalised as I write, so the lap times and top speeds from the Brands test session shouldn’t give too much away, but with power outputs ranging from a reported 77 to 95bhp some teams’ bikes were left standing on the straight. However, once those regulations are finalised and each team has optimised their performance within them, and as long as those regulations are carefully policed at each round, the variation will be much reduced, placing a greater emphasis on the rider’s ability to get the bike round, and their team’s ability to make the bike run consistently quickly.

And, as a couple of teams have pointed out to me, the first time you ride an XR1200 in anger on a race track you’ve got plenty of things to get to grips with before you start worrying about a few horsepower here and there.

Of course, the younger riders haven’t had the opportunity to race Harleys – some of them were still at school the last time 883s were raced in the UK.

Joe Moore, at 18, is the youngest rider and comes from racing GSXRs and R6s. Rob McNealey, at 25, is a skilled SuperMoto rider determined to get his teeth into road racing and sees the XR1200 Trophy as an great way to start.

In fact all the racers I have spoken to have been enthusiastic about the bike and pleasantly surprised by the weight, its distribution, and the handling – once they’ve wrestled it off the truck, that is.

Some teams have been testing their bikes in Spain since January but now the grid has exceeded expectations, delays in getting final race kit parts from Harris have meant others are only just getting theirs out of the workshop, never mind actually riding it … and it’s just five weeks ’til the first round at Oulton Park!

Traditional wisdom would suggest that those teams that signed up first and have been meticulously testing for months have a clear advantage over dealerships that signed up just a few weeks ago and are still waiting for the last few bits and pieces to finish the bike, but this is motorcycle racing and a combination of Lady Luck and a huge range of variables means that you can chuck normal rules out of the window – and sit tight and watch to see what actually happens out on track.

To complicate matters, the tyres have been changed which is bound to have wrong-footed the first few teams to sign up as they will have set the bike up for the old Dunlop D209s. They’ve now been replaced by the D211. I did hear the expression “handles like a pregnant yak” … mentioning no names!

What this all boils down to is a real mixture of teams on the grid. A select few have direct experience with racing Buells and Harleys. Other dealers bring knowledge from other forms of motor sport, and some have no experience whatsoever.

Not only that, but team budgets and personal expectations will differ wildly too.

As I reported last issue, teams such as Warr’s Racing have been testing abroad and, having signed old ally Jeremy McWilliams, and more recently, four times Canadian Thunder Champion, Darren James, who has many years experience of racing Buells under his belt, their intention to win couldn’t be clearer.

Other dealers are taking a more laid-back approach: the boys from Jersey Harley-Davidson certainly see the series as a way to promote their dealership, but their aim, above all, is to have fun and enjoy the opportunity to go racing. They’ve teamed up with rider Bernie Price from Guernsey, who only got his hands on the bike a few days before we went to press and so missed the official BSB Brands Hatch test – but went ten days later and was pleasantly surprised with
the bike, first time out. With a lengthy ferry journey to even their nearest track they’re
likely to win the ‘most-travelled team’ award at the end of the year.

Having said that, Darren James will be racking up some serious air miles.

What this mixing pot of teams have in common is they are all linked to a UK Harley-Davidson dealer and they are all hugely enthusiastic about the whole adventure, and it’s getting close now.

So what now?

In case motorcycle racing is new to you, each team will usually get two sessions on track at each circuit before the races.

The first – usually on a Friday – is a practice session allowing the riders to familiarise themselves with the circuit, and for the teams to tweak the bike to suit the rider and the track.

The second session is “Qualifying” and the fastest time you set during this session determines a rider’s position on the race grid: this will be on Saturday at Oulton Park.

In some race series, qualifying can be very entertaining, so if you are planning a day or weekend at the races, check out the times of the qualifying sessions too.

While the last place on the grid is only a few metres behind ‘pole position’, it can make a huge difference to your chances in the race in terms of the traffic you can expect to encounter in the first few corners, and you’ll lose a lot of time trying to get past people – especially annoying if
your are quick but you didn’t do yourself justice in qualifying.

I have heard rumours of a two start race and even a reverse grid – but we will have to wait and see about that!
The points system is fairly simple: first place gets 25 points, second is 20, third is 16, fourth is 13, fifth nets you 11 and then it’s one point less all the way down to 15th place. So you can still get some good points even if you’re running at the back – and even just staying on the bike (or
getting back on after a fall) can make all the difference at the end of the series.

The prize fund for the overall series winner includes a road legal XR1200 and a decent amount of cash and tyres will be given to podium placed riders and ‘man of the meet’ at each round.

Might just cover the cost of taking part?

No, not really, but none of the teams are taking part to make money – more like the excitement of the challenge, being there, the publicity, the sheer outright fun and the potential glory.