UK Racer Returns to Track After 18 Months on 2000 Yamaha R6

Richie Harrison of Harrison Brothers racing returned to the sport he loves at Cadwell Park in the UK for the first time since 2005. Harrison suffered a broken pelvis, sternum, fractured hip and bruising to the lungs at Brands Hatch more than one year ago.

“It’s been a long time coming but I finally made it back to the race track at the Derby Phoenix MCC’s last meeting of the year,” Harrison wrote. “I had very specific goals and they weren’t to beat a certain time or finish a certain position but mainly to enjoy my first ride back after 18 months away from racing. I wanted to ride comfortably but more importantly I did not want to end up back in the hospital because of a mistake.”
Richie Harrison of Harrison Brothers Racing
Richie Harrison of Harrison Brothers Racing
The conditions were very damp at the first practice session and Harrison said his nerves were jangling a bit. He completed Saturday’s races on his Formula 600CC Championship onboard the HBR 2000 Yamaha R6.

“On Sunday, I was determined to have a good solid end of the day,” he wrote. “But, we were told that all races after dinner would be 10 laps instead of 7, and I wondered how well I would stand up to the full race distance with my fitness being still somewhat lacking in comparison to normal after my injuries. I took to the track and thought just do what you have done, have fun and go home safe. I passed a number of riders and settled into a good rhythm. By mid-race I made a few slight errors and had to tell myself to concentrate at one of the most demanding tracks in the country. I put my head down to set the fastest lap of the whole weekend on the last flying lap which was 1 minute 43.7 seconds.”

Harrison took 15th at the checkered flag but gained two points. “If anyone would have said that on my return to racing on a new unfamiliar bike that I would have grabbed two points, I would have been hard pushed to agree,” he said. “But I managed it and more importantly I stayed safe and rode well within my limits and enjoyed myself.”

Richie Harrison’s brother Jonathan finished the Dynapro Minitwins Championship in 3rd place. Harrison Brothers Racing uses K&N products on their vehicles. “We run K&N Air and Oil Filters on our vehicles,” said Harrison. “K&N products allow our machines to breathe and aids in our torque.”

Harrison plans to race at the next two Auto 66 Club Meetings at Elvington Park near York on October 1st.

Follow Richie Harrison's progress throughout the racing season at the K&N news site. Find K&N products for your vehicle using the K&N application search then use the K&N dealer search to find a K&N dealer in your part of the world.