Cycle News Staff | June 3, 2014
For the second day in a row tragedy struck at the Isle of Man TT with three-time British Supersport Champion Karl Harris losing his life in the Superstock Race in an incident at Joey’s Corner on the second lap of the race. This follows yesterday’s loss of 64-year-old Bob Price in the Supersport race.
Harris made his TT Races debut in 2012. The 34-year old from Sheffield Harris appeared on the racing scene as a teenager in the 1990s, when he rode for Team Great Britain in the Superteen Championship. Harris left British scene and went on to win the 1999 European Superstock 1000cc Championship before spending a season in the World Supersport Championship.
But Harris was best known for his career in British Championship. He was the dominant force in the British Supersport Championship in the early 2000s and went on to win three-consecutive championships in the class – between 2001 and 2004 – the first for Crescent Suzuki and the remaining two for Honda Racing. He progressed full time to the Superbike category in 2005.
Harris was a prominent front-runner in the Superbike class for the factory Suzuki, Honda and Yamaha teams, his best season in 2006 when he finished in fifth in the championship with 6 podiums. In total, Harris notched up 12 British Superbike podiums.
In a release from the TT, an ACU Spokesman said, “The ACU wishes to pass on their deepest sympathy to Karl’s family and friends.”
“Karl [Harris] was one of the great characters in the race paddock,” said Gary Thompson, TT Clerk of the Course, ACU Events. “His infectious enthusiasm and sense of humor lit up many race meetings. He was a hugely talented racer and will be sorely missed.”
The Twitter feed was also filling up with expressions of condolences and feelings of loss for Harris. Including from one of his former competitors, MotoGP racer Cal Crutchlow.
“Really sad to hear Karl Harris passed away at TT today,” Crutchlow said via Twitter. “One of most natural talented riders I ever raced against. Great guy too. RIP.”
