Karl Harris commits to PR Kawasaki for 2013

Karl Harris will start a British Superbike Championship season for the first time since 2009 after putting pen to paper on a 2013 deal with the PR Racing team.

The three-time British Supersport Champion returned to British Superbikes with PR Racing (under the Quattro Plant Kawasaki banner) from round seven as a replacement for Gary Mason and proceeded to see out the 2012 season with a series of strong points' finishes, most notably a pair of top ten finishes at Cadwell Park.

Scoring some of the team's best results of the season, Harris has now agreed to stay on with PR Racing for 2013 and is confident the lessons learned during his half-campaign with the team puts him in a good position for next year.

"I am really pleased to be staying with PR Racing," the 32-year-old said. "As a privateer team, we have a lot more freedom than the bigger teams, which works well on and off the track. Last year I was asked to ride for John and the team three days before Brands Hatch.

"Without any real testing it was a massive learning curve for all involved. By signing for the team for next season, I feel we are in a much stronger position than most teams on the grid, as we have already been through the hard part of setting the bike up to suit my riding style, which we know we were getting right, as we had such a good finish towards the end of the season. "

"As a team we can now concentrate on moving forward, so I feel extremely positive about 2013 and cannot wait for the season to start."

One of the first BSB teams to announce a rider for the 2013 season, PR Racing team principal John Jameson was delighted to welcome Harris on board full-time.

"Signing Karl is an important part of our strategy and shows our commitment to the BSB series. Like a lot of teams, we have had to fight hard to keep the team going forward."

"Karl is a great rider and his tenacity and professionalism was an important asset to the team in 2012, which I am pleased to see continue in to 2013."

Though Harris - a 'veteran' of 162 BSB starts - has made sporadic appearances in British Superbikes over the last couple of years, this will be the first time he has started a season since he competed with Hydrex Honda in 2009.