Muggeridge: A winner in the making.

A spectacular three race winning run at the end of the 2003 World Supersport season was an impressive feat for the combination of Karl Muggeridge, Ten Kate Honda and the new CBR600RR Honda, but it was just a taster of what was to come in 2004.

The 30-year-old Australian rider, now a long term resident in Andorra, has carried on his 2003 form almost through the 2004 season, despite a couple of minor wobbles on the path to Supersport greatness in the first two rounds at Valencia and Phillip Island.

Muggeridge scored an irrepressible five wins in the next six races, to put himself in an almost unassailable 38-point championship lead before the penultimate round at Imola, another race in which he was triumphant.

His win at Imola allowed him the luxury of winning the championship one race early in the ten round World Supersport season.

It also gave Ten Kate and Honda a third Riders' title in successive years, one with the CBR600FS in the hands of Fabien Foret, plus two for the CBR600RR with Chris Vermeulen in 2003 and now Muggeridge this year.

Muggeridge, called 'Muggas' by all and sundry, had his early experiences of racing at his local tracks in Australia, but quickly realising his abundant natural talent, he decided to start competition in the always competitive Australian national scene.

Covering huge distances to compete Muggeridge soon tired of the long hauls, with too little rewards in terms of recognition and remuneration to continue.

The 1999 season saw Muggeridge fourth in the UK championship, shortly before another one of his big steps in expectation pushed him into the World Championship.

Muggeridge's maiden WSS race win came during his full time season with the Ten Kate team, taking victory in the second of two Brands Hatch races in 2000.

An ill-fated swap to the Alstare Suzuki team in 2001 dented Muggeridge's competitive edge somewhat, even if Muggeridge was occasionally capable of running strongly at the front.

Seventh overall was a two-step drop from his previous year's fifth for Honda, and thus Muggeridge returned to the CBR fold.

Another tough season for the Honda UK team, moving up to World Supersport, was highlighted by a fine third at a torrentially wet Silverstone circuit, on his way to overall 14th.

Seeing his talent undimmed his old partners Ten Kate Honda stepped in with an offer to ride alongside his countryman, the ebullient young Australian Chris Vermeulen.

The Ten Kate pairing proved a potent force in 2003 but it was Vermeulen who secured the championship, with Muggeridge fourth. All of Muggeridge's ten WSS race wins have come on Honda machinery and all of them in Ten Kate colours.

Naturally, he puts his close working relationship with Ten Kate as a prime reason for his recent success.

"One the things I have always tried to go is work well with the guys and make the most of everything," said Muggeridge. "Chipping away at things. Riding for these guys is really motivational because they just want to keep pushing, keep going for the wins."

With such a chequered history of ups and downs, Muggeridge adopted some highly unusual preparations, shortly before his immaculate run of success in 2003 and 2004 Supersport.

He explains that they have been an integral part of winning nine of the last 12 available Supersport races.

"I'm definitely mentally stronger," he claimed. "I went on retreat course last year, in Switzerland, just to get rid of the negative stuff about my career, the crashes and injuries and all that. It was like somewhere to go to just reset yourself - to defrag your hard drive, if you like.

"Only it took ten days not two hours, like it does on your computer. I did it last year, just before I started winning races. It was living like a monk, no communication with anyone. I just came into the last three races with a clear state of mind, knowing what I wanted and how I could get it. It has simply carried on into this year."

Ever the professional, Muggeridge ended his glory day at Imola with a touch of reality.

"Winning the title with my family here is fantastic and it has already sunk in - but right now all I'm thinking about is the final race at Magny Cours," concluded Muggeridge.