25 Years of World Superbike: Karl Muggeridge
The SBK Hall of Fame initiative continued at the Nurburgring over the weekend with the induction of one of the most experienced and successful riders in International motor cycling. With over 150 races to his name in World Superbike and Supersport, Karl Muggeridge was awarded his silver medal shortly before the start of race 2 in pitlane.
A production-racing veteran, "Muggas" made his debut in World Supersport back in 1998, when he was successfully racing in the British series. The man from Tweed Heads, New South Wales (Australia) became a full-time competitor in 2000 and was quickly one of the stars of the mid-engined production-racing series.
Muggeridge concluded his first full world championship season as Ten Kate Honda rider in fifth place in the championship with 3 pole positions, 4 podiums and above all a first win at Brands Hatch. After a year with Alstare Suzuki in 2001, Muggeridge returned to Honda for three years in 2002, 2003 and 2004, and in that final year he was crowned World Champion with the Ten Kate team. His sensational tally in 2004 was 8 poles in ten races, the same number of podiums and 7 victories.
With these results behind him, Muggeridge was promoted to World Superbike in 2005, again with Ten Kate Honda (finishing 11th overall, with two fourths at Monza and Magny-Cours as his best results). He continued in WSB in the following years, with Honda (Alto Evolution and DFX) and Suzuki (Celani, and then Alstare for the final two rounds of 2009). Muggeridge then switched to the German IDM Superbike championship in 2010, making his debut with a Honda CBR 1000RR C-ABS for the Holzhauer Racing Promotion Team and winning the championship. He returned to victory again this year at the Schleiz circuit , again on a Honda Firebalde prepared by the Jens Holzhauer-run team.
With 62 presences (and 11 wins) to his name in Supersport, 114 in Superbike (the last two at Portimao in 2011 with Castrol Honda as replacement for the injured Ruben Xaus), Karl Muggeridge is one of the longest-serving riders in the paddock, capable of switching easily and successfully between 1000 and 600cc machines, the right credentials to enter into the SBK Hall of Fame.
