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."