Braking Point - A Rider Profile with Seth Barnett
The off-season doesn’t mean downtime for any racer. For Seth Barnett, it’s a window to rebuild, refine, and push the limits before the chaos of another packed race calendar. We sent Loamlife Media out to Grizedale Forest and caught up with him in the midst of his winter training block, tuning his setup, stacking hours on the bike, and putting his Gorilla Brake Pads through their paces ahead of the 2026 season.
Filming with Seth for a day gave us a glimpse into what separates committed racers from casual riders. When most people are slowing down for winter, Seth is in full test mode, focused on every detail that could shave time off his next run.
Prepping for 2026
Seth’s 2025 season was a standout. Between race weekends, travel, and trawling the pits for spares, he still managed to post some of his best results yet, including a win during the British National Series. But like every racer who’s hungry for more, he’s already thinking ahead.
For 2026, the goals are much bigger, with a focus on European races Seth has his sights set on a World Cup invitation. That means more time on local trails, more testing, and more fine-tuning the setup ahead of another year between the tape.
When we met up, his bike looked race-ready, immaculate lines, clean cockpit, and a fresh set of Gorilla brake pads fitted for another round of testing. But what stood out most was the way he described the process. Every detail mattered. Already a seasoned racer, Seth understands the need to find a balance between fine tuning the small details, and getting so bogged down in the details you forget to loosen up and ride free.
Testing, Not Guessing
Brake testing might sound simple on paper, swap pads, go ride, pick what feels best, but in reality, it’s anything but. For Seth, it’s a structured process that he wants to refine even more in the off-season. With an uplift day on the cards, Seth plans to put each of the compounds available through their paces one at a time to get a feel for the strengths available through the different pads on offer.
Riding the day on the Enduro-Pro Semi-Metallic Seth has been running pads right to the backplate to understand the development of the pads over time. With plenty of local laps the data is starting to stack up, with the goal of a fully dialled setup prior to the first race of 2026.
Off-Season Mindset
When the race tape isn’t up and the pressure’s off, some racers struggle to keep the motivation alive. For Seth, that’s not the case. Being based right here in the Lakes he's found home amongst the trees or Grizedale Forest, honing his craft every chance he gets.
The off-season isn’t glamorous by any means, it’s cold rides, muddy trails, gruelling gym sessions, and long days building fitness and confidence. But it’s also the time when breakthroughs happen, when confidence is built and mental focus is forged.
Confidence Through Control
Watching Seth hit his local lines with full commitment, the difference in control was obvious. The Gorilla Semi-Metallic / SRAM Maven setup offered the same power and predictability from the first pull to the last, even as the trails got sketchier, the weather wetter and the rotors hotter.
That’s the part of braking people often overlook, the confidence it gives you to push harder. When you can rely on your brakes 100%, you ride differently. You send into corners faster, trust your instincts more, and carry speed where others back off.
Looking Ahead
As we wrapped the shoot, it was clear the 2026 season is already in motion for him. Testing isn’t just about components, it’s a mindset of preparation. Every ride right now is an investment in next year’s results.
And for Gorilla Brakes, seeing riders like Seth putting their products through real-world punishment is what it’s all about. These aren’t lab tests, they’re valuable laps that help a rider to be better and faster with each run.
When race day comes and the clock starts, there’s no question of what’s under the lever, just total trust that every pull will deliver.
Photos: Max Clarke