Karl Harris makes the long trip south to Thruxton from his hometown of Sheffield for his first taste of race action onboard the Rob Mac Racing Yamaha YZF-R1, as the 2008 season attempts to finally get under way in more conducive weather conditions this weekend, 18-20 April.
Despite brands Hatch being the first time that Karl had ridden the Yamaha competitively, the former triple British Supersport champion was instantly at ease with the 200bhp machine, setting a blistering pace that rewarded the team with its first front row British Superbike race start for 12 months.
Thruxton provides good memories as the scene of Karl's first-ever British Supersport win. Through a new winter training and diet regime that includes punishing mountain bike rides with Team Principal Rob McElnea, Karl knows that his fitness this season is at a peak to cope with the strenuous demands of the fast and punishing Hampshire circuit and that good results on Sunday can be within easy reach
The pressure may be on for Rob Mac Racing to provide another piece of racing history this weekend. In 2007 Tommy Hill set the fastest ever two-wheeled lap of Thruxton as he put Rob McElnea's Yamaha YZF-R1 on pole position for the first time in his career. However, after consistently running a quicker lap pace than the World Superbike Yamaha's in 2007 at Brands Hatch, Karl is showing his confidence with his new team and has quickly become one of the bookies' favourites to post race wins this season in his challenge for the title.
The action gets off with Free Practice on Friday, followed by the "Swan Combi 50 - Roll for Pole" 50-minute Qualifying session at 14.15 on Saturday afternoon. Both 20-lap British Superbike races will be screened live on British Eurosport. Lap records look set to tumble as Race 1 gets underway at 13.00, with the second trip to the grid scheduled for 15.30.
Karl Harris: "After the success that the team had in Qualifying at Brands I'm feeling really positive and looking forward to showing how well I can run on the Yamaha this coming weekend. I got my first Supersport win at Thruxton back in 2001, so I know that I can run well here."
Rob McElnea, Team Principal:"Fingers crossed this should be the start of the season! The weather forecast looks slightly better for Thruxton so we should get the show on the road. Karl's pace through qualifying at Brands before it was cancelled was very encouraging and I am sure he cannot wait to get to race day, he really has got my whole team motivated, he is Mr 100% every time he climbs on the bike and that inspires the whole pit. Tommy Hill sat on 'pole' this time last season so we know what our bike can do around here and with the whole grid on equal tyres there should be no reason why we cannot race at the sharp end, and if gets to flexing muscles going into the final chicane we have 'Bomber' Harris in our gang!"
British Eurosport Live TV Broadcast Window, 12.30 - 16.30 (Sunday 20 April)
