Karl Harris
Encyclopedia
Karl Harris is a professional motorcycle
road racer
. He is a three-time former British Supersport champion, but has not won a race in 6 years in the British Superbike Championship. In 2010 he switched to the British Superstock Championship on a GR Motorsport Aprilia. He is married to Jane, and they have no children as yet.
GSX-R750, as well as taking in some rounds of World Supersport in 1999, with a best result of 4th. He returned to the UK in 2001, racing a Suzuki in the British Supersport Championship, which he won. He then graduated to Superbikes in 2002 on a Suzuki, but this was not a successful season. In 2003 and 2004, he again raced in Supersport for HM Plant Honda
, winning the title in both years.
, finishing 9th overall with a best result of 3rd.
He moved to the main HRC Honda team alongside Ryuichi Kiyonari
for 2006
, taking a 2nd place at Oulton Park
, less than 0.1 seconds behind race winner Gregorio Lavilla
. A crash in the first race at Snetterton
caused him to miss the second, although he was not seriously injured. He took his first pole position at Oulton Park
that year. He came close to his first series win in the second race at Croft in the wet, passed by Leon Haslam
with half a lap to go. While Kiyonari won the title, Harris finished fifth overall, behind the semi-works bike of Jonathan Rea
, who replaced him in the factory team for 2007.
He switched to the Hydrex Honda team for that year. His best result in the first half of the season was a 6th place, but again he showed good pace at Oulton Park. He scored an emotional second place in the second round at Oulton Park in August.
For 2008 he moved to Rob Mac Racing, riding a factory Yamaha
. He crashed in the first round after being struck by Tom Sykes
' fallen Rizla Suzuki, leading him to remark that he felt like he'd be hit by Joe Calzaghe
. He did not finish any of the first six races of the year, leading him to largely give up on the season. At the final meeting of the season he was quick in practice, before being forced to pull out after his wife sent pictures of him snorting cocaine to boss Rob McElnea. He made a one-off appearance on a works Yamaha in the World Supersport championship at Brands Hatch
, crashing out of 5th place.
For 2009 Karl moved to Shaun Muir's Hydrex Bike Devil's Honda team. He was tipped as a dark horse for the title by former rival Leon Haslam
, but struggled to meet expectations. Following two second place finishes in round two of the championship at Oulton Park, Harris struggled to compete with the championship contenders throughout the season. On September 4, 2009, with three rounds of the championship remaining, his contract with the Hydrex Honda team was terminated with immediate effect. The team cited poor results as the reason for the decision., having been on a race-by-race deal for much of the season due to Muir being unhappy with his performance He contested the final two rounds on a Sorrymate.com SMT Honda, but crashed heavily in the final meeting at Oulton Park.
For 2010 he did not land a BSB ride, and switched to the British Superstock Championship on a GR Motorsport Aprilia. He left the team after three disappointing races, with the team noting that his "mindset and performance has deteriorated".
Motorcycle
A motorcycle is a single-track, two-wheeled motor vehicle. Motorcycles vary considerably depending on the task for which they are designed, such as long distance travel, navigating congested urban traffic, cruising, sport and racing, or off-road conditions.Motorcycles are one of the most...
road racer
Road racing
Road racing is a general term for most forms of motor racing held on paved, purpose-built race tracks , as opposed to oval tracks and off-road racing...
. He is a three-time former British Supersport champion, but has not won a race in 6 years in the British Superbike Championship. In 2010 he switched to the British Superstock Championship on a GR Motorsport Aprilia. He is married to Jane, and they have no children as yet.
Early career
He started his career in 1996, moving through the junior ranks to race in the European Superstock Championship, winning the title on the SuzukiSuzuki
is a Japanese multinational corporation headquartered in Hamamatsu, Japan that specializes in manufacturing compact automobiles and 4x4 vehicles, a full range of motorcycles, all-terrain vehicles , outboard marine engines, wheelchairs and a variety of other small internal combustion engines...
GSX-R750, as well as taking in some rounds of World Supersport in 1999, with a best result of 4th. He returned to the UK in 2001, racing a Suzuki in the British Supersport Championship, which he won. He then graduated to Superbikes in 2002 on a Suzuki, but this was not a successful season. In 2003 and 2004, he again raced in Supersport for HM Plant Honda
Honda
is a Japanese public multinational corporation primarily known as a manufacturer of automobiles and motorcycles.Honda has been the world's largest motorcycle manufacturer since 1959, as well as the world's largest manufacturer of internal combustion engines measured by volume, producing more than...
, winning the title in both years.
British Superbikes 2005-present
For 2005 he returned to Superbikes with a Honda run from their UK factory in SwindonSwindon
Swindon is a large town within the borough of Swindon and ceremonial county of Wiltshire, in South West England. It is midway between Bristol, west and Reading, east. London is east...
, finishing 9th overall with a best result of 3rd.
He moved to the main HRC Honda team alongside Ryuichi Kiyonari
Ryuichi Kiyonari
is a professional motorcycle road racer. He is the 2006, 2007 and 2010 British Superbike champion, and he currently rides for HM Plant Honda in the British Superbike Championship. He also won the 2008 Suzuka 8-Hour race, teamed with his former WSBK team-mate Carlos Checa...
for 2006
2006 British Superbike season
The 2006 British Superbike season was held from March 24 to September 30.-Races:-British Superbike Championship:-British Supersport Championship:-National Superstock Championship:-External links:*...
, taking a 2nd place at Oulton Park
Oulton Park
Oulton Park Circuit is a motor racing track in the small village of Little Budworth, Cheshire, England. It is about from Winsford, from Chester city centre, from Northwich and from Warrington with a nearby rail connection along the Mid-Cheshire Line. It occupies much of the area which was...
, less than 0.1 seconds behind race winner Gregorio Lavilla
Gregorio Lavilla
Gregorio Lavilla born September 29, 1974 in Vandellòs i l'Hospitalet de l'Infant, Tarragona, Spain is a professional motorcycle road racer. He has raced in MotoGP , the Superbike World Championship, and the British Superbike Championship, taking the British crown in 2005...
. A crash in the first race at Snetterton
Snetterton Motor Racing Circuit
Snetterton Motor Racing Circuit is a motor racing circuit in Norfolk, England. Owned by MotorSport Vision, it is situated on the A11 road some 20 km north-east of the town of Thetford and 30 km south-west of the city of Norwich...
caused him to miss the second, although he was not seriously injured. He took his first pole position at Oulton Park
Oulton Park
Oulton Park Circuit is a motor racing track in the small village of Little Budworth, Cheshire, England. It is about from Winsford, from Chester city centre, from Northwich and from Warrington with a nearby rail connection along the Mid-Cheshire Line. It occupies much of the area which was...
that year. He came close to his first series win in the second race at Croft in the wet, passed by Leon Haslam
Leon Haslam
Leon Lloyd Haslam is a motorcycle racer from England. He began racing at an early age and by the time he was in his late teens, he had raced in most of the significant British and international championships. Between 2005 and 2008 he was a regular front-runner in the British Superbike Championship...
with half a lap to go. While Kiyonari won the title, Harris finished fifth overall, behind the semi-works bike of Jonathan Rea
Jonathan Rea
Jonathan 'Johnny' Rea is a motorcycle racer, currently competing in the Superbike World Championship for Castrol Honda. He was runner-up in the Supersport World Championship for the Ten Kate Honda team in 2008, and runner-up in the British Superbike Championship in 2007 for the HM Plant Honda team...
, who replaced him in the factory team for 2007.
He switched to the Hydrex Honda team for that year. His best result in the first half of the season was a 6th place, but again he showed good pace at Oulton Park. He scored an emotional second place in the second round at Oulton Park in August.
For 2008 he moved to Rob Mac Racing, riding a factory Yamaha
Yamaha
Yamaha may refer to:* Yamaha Corporation, a Japanese company with a wide range of products and services** Yamaha Motor Company, a Japanese motorized vehicle-producing company...
. He crashed in the first round after being struck by Tom Sykes
Tom Sykes
Tom Sykes is a motorcycle road racer born 19 August 1985 in Huddersfield, Yorkshire, England. In 2007 he gained his first ride in British Superbikes, riding a Stobart Vent-Axia Honda; Sykes finished in sixth position in the championship in his rookie year...
' fallen Rizla Suzuki, leading him to remark that he felt like he'd be hit by Joe Calzaghe
Joe Calzaghe
Joseph William Calzaghe, CBE, MBE is a Welsh former professional boxer. He is the former WBO, WBA, WBC, IBF, The Ring & British super middleweight champion and The Ring light heavyweight champion....
. He did not finish any of the first six races of the year, leading him to largely give up on the season. At the final meeting of the season he was quick in practice, before being forced to pull out after his wife sent pictures of him snorting cocaine to boss Rob McElnea. He made a one-off appearance on a works Yamaha in the World Supersport championship at Brands Hatch
Brands Hatch
Brands Hatch is a motor racing circuit near West Kingsdown in Kent, England. First used as a dirt track motorcycle circuit on farmland, it hosted 12 runnings of the British Grand Prix between 1964 and 1986 and currently holds many British and international racing events...
, crashing out of 5th place.
For 2009 Karl moved to Shaun Muir's Hydrex Bike Devil's Honda team. He was tipped as a dark horse for the title by former rival Leon Haslam
Leon Haslam
Leon Lloyd Haslam is a motorcycle racer from England. He began racing at an early age and by the time he was in his late teens, he had raced in most of the significant British and international championships. Between 2005 and 2008 he was a regular front-runner in the British Superbike Championship...
, but struggled to meet expectations. Following two second place finishes in round two of the championship at Oulton Park, Harris struggled to compete with the championship contenders throughout the season. On September 4, 2009, with three rounds of the championship remaining, his contract with the Hydrex Honda team was terminated with immediate effect. The team cited poor results as the reason for the decision., having been on a race-by-race deal for much of the season due to Muir being unhappy with his performance He contested the final two rounds on a Sorrymate.com SMT Honda, but crashed heavily in the final meeting at Oulton Park.
For 2010 he did not land a BSB ride, and switched to the British Superstock Championship on a GR Motorsport Aprilia. He left the team after three disappointing races, with the team noting that his "mindset and performance has deteriorated".
Career results
| Year | Series | Position |
|---|---|---|
| 1999 | European Superstock Championship | (1st) |
| 2000 | British Superbike Championship | (26th) |
| 2001 | British Supersport Championship | (1st) |
| 2002 | British Superbike Championship | (12th) |
| 2003 | British Supersport Championship | (1st) |
| 2004 | British Supersport Championship | (1st) |
| 2005 | British Superbike Championship | (7th) |
| 2006 | British Superbike Championship | (5th) |
| 2007 | British Superbike Championship | (11th) |
| 2008 | British Superbike Championship | (11th) |