Max Symonds uses EBC Brakes Racing’s GPFAX pads and X-Series floating discs
Following a successful 2024 campaign, Wiltshire-based motorcycle racer, Max Symonds has been gearing up for another season competing in the British Superbike’s National Superstock category.
The rider, who also won Castle Combe Circuit’s coveted NG Road Racing ‘King of Combe’ race in 2023, has switched from his Yamaha R1 to a Honda CBR 1000RR Fireblade for 2025, continuing to use EBC Brakes Racing’s GPFAX pads and X-Series floating discs to provide the stopping power.
Symonds enjoyed a very busy season of testing at circuits across Europe, proving to be a huge success. Unfortunately, a fractured foot means he’ll miss the first few rounds, but he summarises his testing sessions in his own words below…
Portimão
“Portimão Circuit, appropriately nicknamed ‘the rollercoaster’, on the south coast of Portugal has a unique layout of right and left turns across some pretty extreme undulations with tricky cambers and blind crests. This makes it very demanding physically to ride but also one of the most exciting and enjoyable circuits.
“This was a great first test track for new Honda Fireblade. Having to make the most of 220bhp around such an active track really put me and the bike through its paces, and I was happy to feel pretty comfortable on it straight away. We made sure to get as many laps in as possible and kept the bike set-up fairly unchanged so I could focus on riding and getting used to the power and handling. Other than the fuel cap coming loose down the start finish straight and covering me in hot fuel on the last day (not ideal!) the trip went smoothly, and I was looking forward to getting back out for more testing soon to start developing a good set-up for the bike.”
Andalucia
“Next up was a visit to the Spanish testing track of Andalucia. This was quite a change to Portimao as it was a very tight, twisty and bumpy track. Also, it is in a very remote area of Spain surrounded by some very impressive mountain ranges.
“This was the first test with all the electronics and datalogging working on the bike so we could start testing different settings to find what works with my riding style. This helps the team develop a base setting that we can use at UK tracks when the race season starts. Each track will require its own unique set-up but having a good base setting to start each weekend with really speeds up the process of the getting the bike handling right.
“The biggest area we worked on in Andalucia was the balance of the bike change by changing suspension settings and the springs in the forks and shock absorber. This ensured the bike movements stay under control throughout the lap, especially when I’m braking really hard and putting the X Series discs and GPFAX pads to work kit to work!”
Seville
“Seville is a new circuit that was only opened towards the end of the 2024 season. This meant the test was my first chance to ride it, unfortunately the weather was against us with the first two days being in very wet conditions. I got out and rode the bike on both days regardless and was really impressed by the grip of the circuit despite the weather. This was also my first proper test on the Honda Fireblade in the wet and it was good to get a feel of the bike in these conditions and on wet tyres.
“The final day was mostly dry and we got plently of laps in. Having already got lots of wet running in I was well dialled into the circuit layout and could really push the bike across its mix of high-speed flowing corners and very tight and twisty last sector.”
Guadix
“Our final pre-season test in Spain was at the Guadix test track. Despite being quite an old circuit, recent renovation work has seen a new pit garage complex built and the track being completely resurfaced. This circuit was more like Andalucia with lots of tight a twisty sections where you really had to use every inch of tarmac and kerbs to make a fast lap time.
“We were able to make some good progress on electronic set-up here, tweaking the engine breaking to make sure the bike handled well as I braked hard on the X Series discs and GPFAX pads into the many tight hairpins and twisty sections, and using higher engine torque settings to give me more power under acceleration.
“Whilst it was mostly dry, we had a number of rain showers over the three days. Unfortunately, on the afternoon of the last day I was out on track and got caught out by the conditions and had a big highside sustaining a number of fractures in my foot, as well as putting quite a lot of damage on the bike. The bike is fixed and ready to go again, however I’ve had to have surgery on my foot so may miss the opening few rounds of the season.
“After such a positive pre-season up until this point it’s really disappointing news but the injury needs time to heal. All I can do for the time being is make sure I am best prepared to be out on track as soon my foot allows!”
GPFAX Pads
EBC’s GPFAX Sintered Race Brake Pads are for RACE ONLY use. This is a blend of brake pad that has higher friction and far better grip than any other brake product on the market.
X-Series Floating Discs
Since their introduction, EBC’s ultra-lightweight floating motorcycle rotors have become one of the worlds best selling lightest and best performing discs available for all modern sport bikes.
