BSB: Dean Harrison signs two-year deal with DAO Racing

Dean Harrison will remain in BSB for the 2022 season after agreeing a two-year deal with DAO Racing. 

The 2021 season saw Harrison score points on nine occasions before finishing 21st in the championship. 

The British rider’s deal with DAO Racing sees him continue with Kawasaki, while it’s also the same team that saw him power his way to the Senior Isle of Man TT win in 2019. 

Harrison, who is better known for his exploits on the road racing scene, will once share dual commitments as the Isle of Man TT and North West 200 make their return in 2022.

"I’m really excited about 2022, it feels like we’re finally getting back to some kind or normality,” said Harrison. “Last year, we didn’t have any road racing apart from one weekend at Oliver’s Mount, so our whole effort went into BSB.

"I think it proved to be an important season, when you’re running with some of the fastest superbike riders in the world, it can only help bring you on and I think both myself and the team learnt a lot.

"This year we have the international road racing back which is very exciting. I’m confident what we’ve learnt in BSB so far will help make us faster when we get back on the roads and with a team and bike I know and work well with, this could certainly be my best year yet."

Harrison is now the sixth rider after Rory Skinner and Lee Jackson (FS-3 Kawasaki), Josh Owens and Liam Delves (Rapid CDH Racing Kawasaki) and Storm Stacey (LKQ Euro Car Parts Kawasaki) to be confirmed on Kawasaki machinery for the 2022 season. 

Team Manager Jonny Bagnall added: "We are delighted to have signed Dean for another two seasons, he’s been an integral part of this team for several years and continuity is so important in this sport.

"It’s been fantastic to see that the international road racing calendar is filling up again and after two years off, we’re all champing at the bit to get back out onto the roads.

"Last year, we committed ourselves to the full Bennetts British Superbike season and it was definitely the right move. We learnt a lot more as a team, and Dean improved further as a rider, so we want to build upon that this year.

"For that reason, we intend to continue racing the world’s leading domestic championship alongside our road racing commitments. I think we more than proved ourselves as a team within the BSB paddock last year and I am confident we can push even further in 2022."