Motorsport Network Ltd
Press Release
For Immediate release: February 9 2009
Harris Retires
New Plymouth’s Shaun Harris, after some serious soul searching and rationalising has come to the decision to RETIRE from
Road Racing.
The “Gremlin” as he is affectionately known, had been sitting on the sidelines since his 2007 Isle of Man TT crash,
which left him in intensive care.
Late in 2008, the 44 year-old, returned to racing with the stated intension of returning to the Isle of Man.
Harris has raced in most classes in New Zealand, holds ten national championships as well as his 2003 “Isle of Man”
Production 1000cc TT and Production 600ccTT titles.
Ever since his crash, on the last lap of the 2007 1000cc Superstock TT race. Harris had had been fighting to return to
his beloved road racing and to get back to the “Island”
“There is still some unfinished business on the Island,” he had stated at the time.
Having now raced several rounds of the New Zealand Superbike Championship, competed and won at the Cemetery Circuit on
Boxing Day. Harris has come to the realisation that it is time to hang up his leathers.
“During the whole of my racing career I have been totally supported by my family. They have shared my success and my
troubles with me on an equal basis. Unless you are in this position, it is difficult to understand the hardships which
come with it. I have to be honest and say that while I have mainly seen things from the 'racers' viewpoint, my recent
discussions with my family have finally brought me to the point where I have decided that with me being a big part of
their life, and them in mine, hanging up the leathers is the most important thing for me now. My love for my family is
my main focus now and I am actually more comfortable than I have ever been in my journey of doubt and indecision of
whether to carry on competing at the TT. My decision to stop has been made purely by myself and for these reasons. I
will now be a 100% family man.” Harris said from his Taranaki home
ENDS