HARRIS EXTENDS CHAMPIONSHIP LEAD
04 July 2004 - Honda Racing

Karl Harris extended his lead in the 2004 British Supersport Championship after taking an impressive second place at Knockhill.

The 24-year-old Yorkshireman powered his HM Plant Honda off the second row into second place behind early leader Paul Young.

The two CBR600RR riders maintained station throughout the wet 23-lap race. Young extended his lead to 9.226 seconds at the chequered flag to make it a Honda one-two in the most demanding of conditions at the 1.3-mile Fife circuit. Harris played it safe over the closing stages in the knowledge that his nearest title challenger Michael Laverty was in a distant third place.

Karl Harris: “I was confident before the race because I knew that we had a good wet set-up on the HM Plant Honda Racing CBR600RR. It was important for me to get off the line quickly and I was able to fall in behind Paul Young on the first lap. After that I just kept an eye on my pit board, didn’t take any unnecessary risks and counted down the laps to the chequered flag. Fair play to Paul – he rode exceptionally well in the conditions and it was good to keep Honda at the top of the Supersport field.

Result: 1. P. Young (Honda) 21:56.004; 2. K. Harris (HM Plant Honda Racing) +9.226; 3. M. Laverty (Ducati) +14.689; 4. P. Riba (Kawasaki) +20.875; 5. T. Sykes (Suzuki) +21.005; 6. K. Murphy (Honda) +25.234; 7. C. Crutchlow (Honda) +28.888; 8. C. Jones (Triumph) +39.673; 9. L. Jackson (Honda) +40.033; 10. B. Grant (Honda) +42.484

Points after round eight: 1. Harris – 156; 2. Laverty – 132; 3. Riba – 101; 4. Vincent – 97; 5. Andrews – 76; 6. Quigley – 65; 7=. Camier, Jones – 49; 9. Sykes – 47; 10. C. Crutchlow – 41; 14. Rea – 26

Footnote: Jonathan Rea was sidelined from today’s Supersport race as a result of injuries sustained after a crash in morning warm-up. The 17-year-old Red Bull Rookies Honda rider from Ballyclare in Northern Ireland suffered a compound fracture of his left femur after parting company with his CBR600RR at Duffus Dip.

www.honda-racing.co.uk

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