A teenage superbike rider has set his sights on 'following in the footsteps' of his successful dad and becoming a UK champion almost ten years on from a crash that claimed the life of his father.
Carl Harris, 17, from Richmond, started his motor racing career at a young age - having learned the ropes from his father, Karl Harris; a successful three-time British Supersport champion.
Despite the fast start to life of riding motorbikes, the youngster stopped for several years and only picked up racing again in 2021, during the grips of the COVID-19 pandemic, having got a bike for his birthday.
During the pandemic, the now 17-year-old caught the attention of the motocross world, having won several national events and moved into the top 10 in his discipline, and it wasn't long before UK superbikes came calling.
Carl, a former pupil at Richmond School, was signed up by the SBR racing team, based in Lancashire, for the 2023 season - and is now aiming for the UK championship in his second season with the team.
He said: "When I started back racing again during the pandemic, my uncle asked me if I wanted to do it properly or just as a hobby - and I told him that I wanted to do it properly and just never looked back from there.
"I've taken to it quite easily - going from motocross to superbike is quite straightforward, and I've had the grounding and advantage to come from motocross.
"They always say the riders that come from motocross and then go to the superbike circuit have an edge."
Before the UK Superbike opener at Circuito de Navarra on April 20-21, Carl has already been to Spain to do testing with SBR Racing and further testing at Donnington Park.
The 17-year-old will then embark on an 11-round UK tour - where the teenager hopes he can replicate his dad's success.
Back in 2014, Carl's dad, Karl, lost his life following a crash on lap two of the Superstock TT on June 4 where it is believed that the 34-year-old riding a Moto Breakers Kawasaki ZX-10R made contact with another rider on the mountain section of the course.
At the time, tributes flooded in for the highly talented three-time Superbike champion; something that Carl believes showed his popularity on the circuit.
With a view forward to the 2024 season, Carl wants to capture some of that talent passed to him by his father - and believes that SBR Racing can help him win the championship.
He has also credited the owners of the team, Steve and Teiga Brogan, saying they are "like family" and have been the key to a successful pre-season.
The 17-year-old added: "It's brilliant to have the team around me - anything that I need, they are always there for me and we are so close.
"The team feels like a family to me - it's so comfortable."
Ahead of the first 2024 race for Carl, he is keen for North Yorkshire-based companies to get in touch with him for advertising.
The proud Yorkshireman wants to help promote local businesses at the Superbike races; events that are shown on TV to thousands of racing fans.
He said: "I want to help fly the flag for North Yorkshire - I love the region - and want to help businesses. The races are on Eurosport and they are shown to plenty of people, so if I can give back to a region that has helped me out I'm all for it.
Carl is on social media on his Facebook page and can be contacted by businesses through there.
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