Back-to-back Honda Racing champion Karl Harris is making his move up to
the prestigious British Superbike class this year, instead of defending
his coveted British Supersport title. He is contesting his Superbike
campaign aboard the Honda-Racing.co.uk CBR1000RR Fireblade on Dunlop
tyres.
There is no doubt that the Yorkshireman has earned his place in the
world's leading domestic Superbike series. After a landslide victory of
six race wins and five second places aboard the HM Plant Honda Racing
CBR600RR in 2004 alone, Harris is confident he can now make his mark in
the championship's premier class.
The 25-year-old newlywed from Sheffield was first given the opportunity
to ride a prototype Honda Racing Fireblade at the Castle Combe Grand
National in October last year. Keen to impress, Harris stepped up onto
the podium to take third place in race one and finished fourth in race
two.
The Honda-Racing.co.uk campaigner is eager to visit the Brands Hatch
venue again after he endured an unlucky crash during his Supersport ride
at the 1.2-mile track last year. Harris rates the Kent circuit as one of
his favourites and will be aiming to achieve two consistent
points-scoring finishes this weekend.
He has been getting to grips with the Honda-Racing.co.uk CBR1000RR
Fireblade during the team's recent pre-season tests in Spain. Then, at
the official British Superbike tests at Brands Hatch and Donington Park
on 13 and 15 March, Harris set some consistent lap times and finished
among the top five riders - a promising build-up to the first round for
the reigning Supersport champion.
Karl Harris: "I'm quite confident about my move up to the Superbike
class, even though I have ridden in it before. I think it is going to be
a new challenge for me and I'm aiming to be a frontrunner from the
outset. The Honda-Racing.co.uk CBR1000RR Fireblade is a fantastic bike.
I got some good results at Castle Combe on a prototype of the machine
and I have been improving my times during testing. I can't wait to get
to Brands."
