18 Facts About Karl Harris

Karl Harris was a three-time British Supersport champion.

Karl Harris started his career in 1996, moving through the junior ranks to race in the European Superstock Championship, winning the title on the Suzuki GSX-R750, as well as taking in some rounds of World Supersport in 1999, with a best result of 4th.

Karl Harris returned to the UK in 2001, racing a Suzuki in the British Supersport Championship, which he won.

Karl Harris then graduated to Superbike racing in 2002 on a Suzuki, but this was not a successful season.

For 2005 Karl Harris returned to BSB with a Honda run from their UK factory in Swindon, finishing 9th overall with a best result of 3rd.

Karl Harris 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.

Karl Harris took his first pole position at Oulton Park that year.

Karl Harris 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.

Karl Harris switched to the Hydrex Honda for 2007, with a best result in the first half of the season a 6th place, again showing good pace at Oulton Park.

Karl Harris crashed in the first round after being struck by Tom Sykes' fallen Rizla Suzuki.

Karl Harris did not finish any of the first six races of the year, leading him to largely give up on the season.

Karl Harris 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 Harris moved to Shaun Muir's Hydrex Bike Devil's Honda team.

Karl Harris was tipped as a dark horse for the title by former rival Leon Haslam, but struggled to meet expectations.

Karl Harris raced in a few selected rounds and had some promising finishes including finishing 7th and 9th at Cadwell Park.

Karl Harris then continued with PR Racing for the rest of the season racing at Assen, Silverstone and Brands Hatch.

In 2013 Karl Harris signed a new contract with PR Racing and started his first BSB season since 2009 when he was racing with Hydrex Honda.

Karl Harris died on 3 June 2014 after an incident at Joey's Corner on the second lap of the Superstock Race during the 2014 Isle of Man TT.