Evergreen Chris Harris, who rides for Edinburgh Monarchs as a guest against Poole at Armadale on Friday night, believes life can still begin in his mid-40s in the Grand Prix series.
The three-time British Champion (pictured in action by Taylor Lanning) will start his bid to reach the elite again at the FIM SGP Qualifier at Ashfield on Saturday (7pm).
It’s the most prestigious event to be held at the circuit for four years with a world class line-up and 43-year-old Harris is up against top riders including fellow Grand Prix winners Jack Holder, Maciej Janowski, Piotr Pawlicki and red-hot stars Kai Huckenbeck, Fredrik Jakobsen and Adam Ellis.
Only five go through to the SGP Challenge in Terenzano on July 25 and Harris, nicknamed ‘Bomber’ has his heart set on making the cut.
He said: “It would be extra special to qualify from Glasgow. The club have backed me since I came back in 2023.
“I’ve proved the doubters wrong. I’ve not had the best of starts this year but, all-in-all, over the past couple of seasons, I’ve shown what I can do.”
He added: “It would be good to qualify in front of the home crowd and to put on a good meeting to show the organisers that Glasgow should have a Grand Prix because that track and venue deserves it.
“I’ll be 44 if I get back into the series for 2027. I don’t see why I can’t do like Greg Hancock did and be successful in my mid-40s.”
Harris spent 11 years in the GP series until the end of the 2016 season and he reached nine finals with one win, five seconds and three thirds.
‘Bomber’ added: “Touch wood I’ve got a fairly good record in qualifiers so, hopefully, I can keep that going.
“Home track advantage isn’t a big thing at the top level, but I do know the lines at Glasgow. Hopefully I can get the track how I like it.
“It’s always tough for those meetings for the track staff with practice and then the event the same night, but it’s obviously a track I like and go well on so I’m looking forward to it.”
Line-up: 1.Antti Vuolas (Finland), 2.Maciej Janowski (Poland) 3.Jack Holder (Australia), 4.Jonas Knudsen (Denmark), 5.Kai Huckenbeck (Germany), 6.Victor Palovaara (Sweden), 7.Mario Hausl (Germany), 8.Anders Rowe (GB), 9.Casper Henriksson (Sweden), 10.Fredrik Jakobsen (Denmark), 11.Adam Ellis (GB), 12.Sven Cerjak (Slovenia), 13.Piotr Pawlicki (Poland), 14.Lasse Fredriksen (Norway), 15.Chris Harris (GB), 16.Daniel Klima (Czech Republic). Reserves: 17.Tom Brennan (GB), 18.Sam Hagon (GB).
