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Chris Harris (speedway rider)
Encyclopedia
Christopher Calvin "Chris" Harris (born 28 November 1982) in Truro
, Cornwall
, nicknamed Bomber, is a Great Britain international speedway
rider for the Belle Vue Aces
in the United Kingdom
.
events. His talent quickly became apparent when he began to win all of the junior age groups in the South-West area.
In 1998, aged 15, Harris progressed to speedway racing for the St. Austell Gulls at Amateur Conference League
level. The Gulls won the Championship and the Knockout Cup.
On his 16th birthday, Harris signed for the Exeter Falcons
, who competed in the Premier League
, the middle tier of British speedway’s three-league structure. Harris then suffered the loss of his father who was not only his driver but also his mentor. He still achieved his first notable individual success later that year, when he became Great Britain Under-16 Champion. He was also selected to ride for Great Britain at both Under-19 and Under-21 level.
In 2000, Harris was able to build on his successful debut season and more than doubled his previous year’s points total, being unbeaten by an opponent in several matches. The Exeter Falcons
team finished the season as Premier League
Champions and reached two cup finals and one semi-final.
Harris moved clubs for the 2001 season, joining the Trelawny Tigers
in Cornwall
. He soon became their top scorer and qualified for the World Under-21 final
as first reserve. He continued his form into 2002, being made club captain. Once again, he was top scorer for the club and under his captaincy Trelawny Tigers
won the Premier Trophy
.
in 2002, with the Peterborough Panthers
. He progressed well during his debut Elite League season, moving up into the main body of the team. Individually, he progressed to the Final of the British Speedway Championship
and finished fourth in the World Under-21 Championship
.
In 2003, Harris was once again able to ride for Trelawny Tigers
in the Premier League and Peterborough Panthers
in the Elite League. By the end of the season, he was an Elite League heat-leader. Off track, he was voted BBC
South-West Sports Personality of the Year.
However, it was on the individual front Harris was most successful. In the World Under-21 Championship
, he won both his quarter and semi final rounds, progressing to the final
in Sweden
where he finished runner-up, one point behind Jarosław Hampel.
His form during 2003 won Harris an invitation to take part as a reserve in the third round of the 2003 FIM Individual Speedway World
Championship, the British Grand Prix
, held at Millennium Stadium
in Cardiff.
2004 saw Harris sign for the Coventry Bees
. The following season, the Bees won the Elite League
Championship, which meant Harris had won titles at all three levels of British speedway aged just twenty-two. He also represented Great Britain in the World Cup
.
For the 2011 season, Harris moved on loan from Coventry to Belle Vue only to return a season later.
. Harris was selected to ride as a permanent wild card in the 2007 Speedway Grand Prix
series, riding at number 15. In only his fifth full Grand Prix meeting he won the British Grand Prix
at Cardiff. He was also a victim of an armed robbery, just two weeks before his maiden Grand Prix win when he was held up at gunpoint whilst out with his manager.
Winning the Grand Prix was considered to be the biggest event to happen in British Speedway for several years.
Off track, he was again voted BBC
South-West Sports Personality of the Year. and was also voted BBC
Midlands Sports Personality of the Year, beating Aston Villa
footballer Gareth Barry
into second place.
Truro
Truro is a city and civil parish in Cornwall, England, United Kingdom. The city is the centre for administration, leisure and retail in Cornwall, with a population recorded in the 2001 census of 17,431. Truro urban statistical area, which includes parts of surrounding parishes, has a 2001 census...
, Cornwall
Cornwall
Cornwall is a unitary authority and ceremonial county of England, within the United Kingdom. It is bordered to the north and west by the Celtic Sea, to the south by the English Channel, and to the east by the county of Devon, over the River Tamar. Cornwall has a population of , and covers an area of...
, nicknamed Bomber, is a Great Britain international speedway
Motorcycle speedway
Motorcycle speedway, usually referred to as speedway, is a motorcycle sport involving four and sometimes up to six riders competing over four anti-clockwise laps of an oval circuit. Speedway motorcycles use only one gear and have no brakes and racing takes place on a flat oval track usually...
rider for the Belle Vue Aces
Belle Vue Aces
The Belle Vue Aces are a British speedway team from Manchester in the north west of England.-Brief history:Racing first took place in 1928 at the Belle Vue greyhound stadium in Kirkmanshulme Lane before moving the following year to a specially built stadium nearby on Hyde Road. The club raced there...
in the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
.
Early career
Chris Harris began his racing career at the age of six and a half by competing in grasstrackGrasstrack
Motorcycle Grasstrack is a form of motorcycle racing which typically, in its current form, takes place on a flat track consisting of two straights and two bends usually constructed in a field. Mountain and hillside tracks are also common in the UK, creating more technically demanding circuits...
events. His talent quickly became apparent when he began to win all of the junior age groups in the South-West area.
In 1998, aged 15, Harris progressed to speedway racing for the St. Austell Gulls at Amateur Conference League
Speedway Conference League
The Conference League was the third and lowest division of motorcycle speedway racing in the United Kingdom governed by the Speedway Control Board , in conjunction with the British Speedway Promoters' Association . The other leagues being the Elite League and Premier League. The League consisted of...
level. The Gulls won the Championship and the Knockout Cup.
On his 16th birthday, Harris signed for the Exeter Falcons
Exeter Falcons
The Exeter Falcons were a speedway team which operated from 1947 until their closure in 2005 at the County Ground Stadium in Exeter. The track first operated in 1929.-Track:...
, who competed in the Premier League
Speedway Premier League
The Premier League is the second division of Speedway in the United Kingdom and goverened by the Speedway Control Board , in conjunction with the British Speedway Promoters' Association . The Premier League was founded in 1995 when it replaced the British League as the first division...
, the middle tier of British speedway’s three-league structure. Harris then suffered the loss of his father who was not only his driver but also his mentor. He still achieved his first notable individual success later that year, when he became Great Britain Under-16 Champion. He was also selected to ride for Great Britain at both Under-19 and Under-21 level.
In 2000, Harris was able to build on his successful debut season and more than doubled his previous year’s points total, being unbeaten by an opponent in several matches. The Exeter Falcons
Exeter Falcons
The Exeter Falcons were a speedway team which operated from 1947 until their closure in 2005 at the County Ground Stadium in Exeter. The track first operated in 1929.-Track:...
team finished the season as Premier League
Speedway Premier League
The Premier League is the second division of Speedway in the United Kingdom and goverened by the Speedway Control Board , in conjunction with the British Speedway Promoters' Association . The Premier League was founded in 1995 when it replaced the British League as the first division...
Champions and reached two cup finals and one semi-final.
Harris moved clubs for the 2001 season, joining the Trelawny Tigers
Trelawny Tigers
Trelawny Tigers operated as a British Premier League Speedway team during the 2001-2003 seasons at the Clay Country Moto Parc. The track, 230m in length, was unique in its setting being situated in a disused china clay pit near St Austell, Cornwall...
in Cornwall
Cornwall
Cornwall is a unitary authority and ceremonial county of England, within the United Kingdom. It is bordered to the north and west by the Celtic Sea, to the south by the English Channel, and to the east by the county of Devon, over the River Tamar. Cornwall has a population of , and covers an area of...
. He soon became their top scorer and qualified for the World Under-21 final
2001 Individual Speedway Junior World Championship
The 2001 Individual Speedway Junior World Championship took place on August 26, 2001 to determine the World Junior Champion. The final was won by Dawid Kujawa who qualified for the 2001 Speedway Grand Prix Challenge but he became injured and his place was taken by the runner-up Lukáš Dryml...
as first reserve. He continued his form into 2002, being made club captain. Once again, he was top scorer for the club and under his captaincy Trelawny Tigers
Trelawny Tigers
Trelawny Tigers operated as a British Premier League Speedway team during the 2001-2003 seasons at the Clay Country Moto Parc. The track, 230m in length, was unique in its setting being situated in a disused china clay pit near St Austell, Cornwall...
won the Premier Trophy
Speedway Premier Trophy
The Premier Trophy is a contest between teams competing in the Speedway Premier League in the UK. The first competition was held in 1999. The competition is usually run before the Premier League starts in April and May. The finals are usually contested in June/July...
.
Elite League progress & International debut
Taking advantage of new rules introduced to assist young British riders, Harris also took the step up to ride in the Elite LeagueSpeedway Elite League
The Elite League is the top division of Speedway league competition in the United Kingdom and is governed by the Speedway Control Bureau , in conjunction with the British Speedway Promoters' Association . It is sponsored by Sky Sports...
in 2002, with the Peterborough Panthers
Peterborough Panthers
The Peterborough Panthers are a British speedway team based in Peterborough, England.They were the British Elite League Speedway Champions in 1999 and 2006...
. He progressed well during his debut Elite League season, moving up into the main body of the team. Individually, he progressed to the Final of the British Speedway Championship
British Speedway Championship
The British Speedway Championship is an annual motorcycle speedway competition open to British national speedway riders. The winner of the event becomes the British Speedway Champion. It has been open in the past to riders from British dominions and was dominated in its early years by riders from...
and finished fourth in the World Under-21 Championship
Individual Speedway Junior World Championship
The Individual Speedway Junior World Championship is an annual speedway event held each year organized by the International Motorcycling Federation since 1977...
.
In 2003, Harris was once again able to ride for Trelawny Tigers
Trelawny Tigers
Trelawny Tigers operated as a British Premier League Speedway team during the 2001-2003 seasons at the Clay Country Moto Parc. The track, 230m in length, was unique in its setting being situated in a disused china clay pit near St Austell, Cornwall...
in the Premier League and Peterborough Panthers
Peterborough Panthers
The Peterborough Panthers are a British speedway team based in Peterborough, England.They were the British Elite League Speedway Champions in 1999 and 2006...
in the Elite League. By the end of the season, he was an Elite League heat-leader. Off track, he was voted BBC
BBC
The British Broadcasting Corporation is a British public service broadcaster. Its headquarters is at Broadcasting House in the City of Westminster, London. It is the largest broadcaster in the world, with about 23,000 staff...
South-West Sports Personality of the Year.
However, it was on the individual front Harris was most successful. In the World Under-21 Championship
Individual Speedway Junior World Championship
The Individual Speedway Junior World Championship is an annual speedway event held each year organized by the International Motorcycling Federation since 1977...
, he won both his quarter and semi final rounds, progressing to the final
2003 Individual Speedway Junior World Championship
-World final:* 13 September 2003 KumlaMartin Smolinski has replace the injured Krzysztof Kasprzak .-See also:...
in Sweden
Sweden
Sweden , officially the Kingdom of Sweden , is a Nordic country on the Scandinavian Peninsula in Northern Europe. Sweden borders with Norway and Finland and is connected to Denmark by a bridge-tunnel across the Öresund....
where he finished runner-up, one point behind Jarosław Hampel.
His form during 2003 won Harris an invitation to take part as a reserve in the third round of the 2003 FIM Individual Speedway World
2003 Speedway Grand Prix
The 2003 Speedway Grand Prix season is the ninth season in the Speedway Grand Prix era and is used to determine the Speedway World Champion.- Event format :The system first used in 1998 continued to be adopted with 24 riders, divided into two classes...
Championship, the British Grand Prix
Speedway Grand Prix of Great Britain
The Speedway Grand Prix of Great Britain is a speedway event that is a part of the Speedway Grand Prix Series.-Winners:-See also:...
, held at Millennium Stadium
Millennium Stadium
The Millennium Stadium is the national stadium of Wales, located in the capital, Cardiff. It is the home of the Wales national rugby union team and also frequently stages games of the Wales national football team, but is also host to many other large scale events, such as the Super Special Stage...
in Cardiff.
2004 saw Harris sign for the Coventry Bees
Coventry Bees
The Coventry Bees are a motorcycle speedway team based at Brandon near Coventry, England. A Coventry team was first formed in 1928 and competed in the Southern League and then the National League in the pre-war era at Brandon stadium. There were also meetings at a stadium in Lythalls Lane...
. The following season, the Bees won the Elite League
Speedway Elite League
The Elite League is the top division of Speedway league competition in the United Kingdom and is governed by the Speedway Control Bureau , in conjunction with the British Speedway Promoters' Association . It is sponsored by Sky Sports...
Championship, which meant Harris had won titles at all three levels of British speedway aged just twenty-two. He also represented Great Britain in the World Cup
Speedway World Cup
The Speedway World Cup is an annual speedway event held each year in different countries. The first edition of the competition in the current format was in 2001 and it replaced the old World Team Cup competition.-Format:...
.
For the 2011 season, Harris moved on loan from Coventry to Belle Vue only to return a season later.
2007 British Grand Prix
In 2007 Harris became British ChampionBritish Speedway Championship
The British Speedway Championship is an annual motorcycle speedway competition open to British national speedway riders. The winner of the event becomes the British Speedway Champion. It has been open in the past to riders from British dominions and was dominated in its early years by riders from...
. Harris was selected to ride as a permanent wild card in the 2007 Speedway Grand Prix
2007 Speedway Grand Prix
The 2007 Speedway Grand Prix season was the thirteenth season in the Speedway Grand Prix era and was used to determine the Speedway World Champion...
series, riding at number 15. In only his fifth full Grand Prix meeting he won the British Grand Prix
2007 Speedway Grand Prix of Great Britain
The 2007 Speedway Grand Prix of Great Britain was the fifth race of the 2007 Speedway Grand Prix season. It took place on 30th June in the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff, United Kingdom.- Starting positions draw :...
at Cardiff. He was also a victim of an armed robbery, just two weeks before his maiden Grand Prix win when he was held up at gunpoint whilst out with his manager.
Winning the Grand Prix was considered to be the biggest event to happen in British Speedway for several years.
Off track, he was again voted BBC
BBC
The British Broadcasting Corporation is a British public service broadcaster. Its headquarters is at Broadcasting House in the City of Westminster, London. It is the largest broadcaster in the world, with about 23,000 staff...
South-West Sports Personality of the Year. and was also voted BBC
BBC
The British Broadcasting Corporation is a British public service broadcaster. Its headquarters is at Broadcasting House in the City of Westminster, London. It is the largest broadcaster in the world, with about 23,000 staff...
Midlands Sports Personality of the Year, beating Aston Villa
Aston Villa F.C.
Aston Villa Football Club is an English professional association football club based in Witton, Birmingham. The club was founded in 1874 and have played at their current home ground, Villa Park, since 1897. Aston Villa were founder members of The Football League in 1888. They were also founder...
footballer Gareth Barry
Gareth Barry
Gareth Barry is an English footballer who plays for Manchester City and the England national football team.Barry moved to Aston Villa from Brighton & Hove Albion as a youngster, and spent 12 years at the club. He captained Aston Villa, and, at the end of his career with the club, lay eighth in...
into second place.
SGP Podium
-
European Union Wrocław (12th May 2007)2007 Speedway Grand Prix of Europe- Heat after heat :#N.Pedersen, Hancock, Harris, Ułamek#Hampel, Adams, Holta, Andersen#B.Pedersen, Jaguś, Gollob, Lindbäck#Crump, Jonsson, Nicholls, Žagar#Adams, Crump, Harris, Lindbäck#Hancock, Jaguś, Nicholls, Holta #Žagar, N.Pedersen, Gollob, Hampel...
- 3rd place -
United Kingdom Cardiff (30th June 2007)2007 Speedway Grand Prix of Great BritainThe 2007 Speedway Grand Prix of Great Britain was the fifth race of the 2007 Speedway Grand Prix season. It took place on 30th June in the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff, United Kingdom.- Starting positions draw :...
- 1st place -
Denmark Copenhagen (5th June 2010)2010 Speedway Grand Prix of Europe- Heat after heat :# Hampel, Harris, Bjerre, Hancock# Pedersen, Holta, Kołodziej, Jonsson # Sayfutdinov, Gollob, Lindgren, Woffinden# Crump, Holder, Zetterström, Andersen# Harris, Pedersen, Lindgren, Zetterström# Kołodziej, Holder, Hampel, Gollob...
- 3rd place -
Croatia Gorican (28th August 2010)2010 Speedway Grand Prix of CroatiaThe 2010 FIM Valvoline Croatian Speedway Grand Prix was the eighth race of the 2010 Speedway Grand Prix season. It took place on August 29 at the Stadium Milenium in Donji Kraljevec, Croatia....
- 2nd place -
Italy Terenzano (25th September 2010)2010 Speedway Grand Prix of ItalyThe 2010 FIM Nice Italian Speedway Grand Prix was the ninth race of the 2010 Speedway Grand Prix season. It took place on 11 September at the Pista Olimpia Terenzano in Terenzano, Italy....
- 2nd place -
Poland Bydgoszcz (9th October 2010)2010 Speedway Grand Prix of Poland II- Heat after heat :# Bjerre, Holta, Kołodziej, Jonsson# Gollob, Lindgren, Andersen, Harris# Zetterstroem, Hampel, Crump, Protasiewicz# Hancock, Pedersen, Holder, Woffinden# Protasiewicz, Hancock, Holta, Gollob...
- 2nd place