Dream ride: Dan meets his hero bike, the H-D XR1200 racer

I can remember it like yesterday. Standing on the outside of Charlies Two at Cadwell Park, transfixed by the sight of 25 Harley-Davidson XR1200s jostling for position before feeding in the power down Park Straight.

It is 2010 and I am 15 years old; neck hairs standing on end, witnessing live motorcycle racing for the very first time.

The noise, the smell, the spectacle, it was love at first sight – and whilst at the time I couldn’t tell you the make of the
bike, or the class of racing, I knew wanted the feeling mainlined into my veins for the rest of my life.

What I can tell you now is I was watching the Harley-Davidson XR1200 Challenge – a British Superbike support series that ran as part of the 2010 and 2011 seasons.

Riders included the likes of Jeremy McWilliams and Mike Edwards, who entertained crowds at circuits across the UK as they tamed these archaic naked beasts which fought for freedom through every bend…