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No Margin for Error: AON Racing Faces the Storm with Dominion Precision
Apr 13, 2025
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The 2025 UCI Downhill World Cup kicked off in Bielsko-Biała, Poland, with wild weather, savage track conditions, and a double-header qualifying format that pushed riders and gear to the edge.
For the AON Racing Team, the weekend may not have delivered perfect results, but it delivered something just as powerful: proof of resilience, focus, and control in the most unpredictable conditions imaginable.
When the track turns to a flowing river and snow blankets the start gate, the smallest error becomes costly—and braking performance becomes everything. That’s where Hayes Dominion A4 and Purple Hayes brakes made the difference.
Harnden Keeps Her Cool in the Storm
Harriet Harnden was one of the standouts of the entire weekend. She stormed into 3rd place in qualifying, despite the rain and mud, proving her pace and line choice were already dialed.
In finals, she attacked confidently—navigating the slippery upper sectors with control and aggression. At the time of her run, a centimeter of snow had fallen at the top, and the track had transformed into a riverbed. Harriet was fast through the first split before a heavy crash knocked her back. Later in the run, a spectator stepped onto the course, forcing her to brake and avoid contact—costing even more time.
Despite those setbacks and a denied appeal for a re-run, Harriet finished 14th, showing the kind of poise that can’t be taught. Her Dominion A4 brakes were critical in these moments—giving her the control to avoid catastrophe, recompose, and ride it out.
“We’re genuinely proud of the speed and spirit everyone showed throughout the weekend. The team worked together seamlessly.” — AON Racing
When the track turns to a flowing river and snow blankets the start gate, the smallest error becomes costly—and braking performance becomes everything. That’s where Hayes Dominion A4 and Purple Hayes brakes made the difference.
Harnden Keeps Her Cool in the Storm
Harriet Harnden was one of the standouts of the entire weekend. She stormed into 3rd place in qualifying, despite the rain and mud, proving her pace and line choice were already dialed.
In finals, she attacked confidently—navigating the slippery upper sectors with control and aggression. At the time of her run, a centimeter of snow had fallen at the top, and the track had transformed into a riverbed. Harriet was fast through the first split before a heavy crash knocked her back. Later in the run, a spectator stepped onto the course, forcing her to brake and avoid contact—costing even more time.
Despite those setbacks and a denied appeal for a re-run, Harriet finished 14th, showing the kind of poise that can’t be taught. Her Dominion A4 brakes were critical in these moments—giving her the control to avoid catastrophe, recompose, and ride it out.
“We’re genuinely proud of the speed and spirit everyone showed throughout the weekend. The team worked together seamlessly.” — AON Racing
Qualifying Drama and Cruel Margins
For the rest of the DH crew, Poland was an emotional rollercoaster:Monika Hrastnik missed finals by less than 0.1 seconds—a cruel margin on a course this treacherous.
Reece Wilson, Henry Kerr, and Stan Nisbet each battled through Q2 but missed the cut amid ever-changing track conditions.
In a weekend where every braking point had to be perfect, Hayes Dominion’s consistent bite point and fade-free feel helped riders stay in the game. Even when the track crumbled beneath their tires, the braking never blinked—allowing riders to focus on flow and reaction instead of second-guessing their lever feel.
Enduro Toughness from Vid Persak
Vid Persak tackled Poland’s Enduro World Cup round with tenacity, despite mechanical issues across multiple stages. He finished 67th, but the ride itself showed promise. On high-speed liaison descents and tight transitions, his Dominion system offered the braking confidence to stay sharp even when mechanicals slowed momentum.
A Brutal Beginning. A Powerful Reminder.
Poland was never going to be easy. A cold, wet, technically brutal course with snow and mid-run track invaders? That’s a lot for any team to process. But what came through clearly in the mud and mist was this: AON Racing is here to fight, and their trust in Hayes braking gave them the freedom to push through it all.
From Hattie’s charge to Monika’s near miss, from team cohesion to mechanical preparation, the pieces are in place. Dominion brakes didn’t just survive Poland—they gave our riders control when it mattered most.
Eyes on Loudenvielle
Round 1 may be in the books, but this story is just beginning. Loudenvielle is next, and the team is bringing every lesson, every setup tweak, and every ounce of momentum into the next chapter.
Let’s ride. Let’s brake later.
For the rest of the DH crew, Poland was an emotional rollercoaster:
In a weekend where every braking point had to be perfect, Hayes Dominion’s consistent bite point and fade-free feel helped riders stay in the game. Even when the track crumbled beneath their tires, the braking never blinked—allowing riders to focus on flow and reaction instead of second-guessing their lever feel.
Enduro Toughness from Vid Persak
Vid Persak tackled Poland’s Enduro World Cup round with tenacity, despite mechanical issues across multiple stages. He finished 67th, but the ride itself showed promise. On high-speed liaison descents and tight transitions, his Dominion system offered the braking confidence to stay sharp even when mechanicals slowed momentum.
A Brutal Beginning. A Powerful Reminder.
Poland was never going to be easy. A cold, wet, technically brutal course with snow and mid-run track invaders? That’s a lot for any team to process. But what came through clearly in the mud and mist was this: AON Racing is here to fight, and their trust in Hayes braking gave them the freedom to push through it all.
From Hattie’s charge to Monika’s near miss, from team cohesion to mechanical preparation, the pieces are in place. Dominion brakes didn’t just survive Poland—they gave our riders control when it mattered most.
Eyes on Loudenvielle
Round 1 may be in the books, but this story is just beginning. Loudenvielle is next, and the team is bringing every lesson, every setup tweak, and every ounce of momentum into the next chapter.
Let’s ride. Let’s brake later.
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