Honda (UK) took a podium hat-trick across the Supersport, Superstock 1000 and Superbike classes at today's fourth round of the BSB Championship at Thruxton.
HM Plant Honda's Steve Plater qualified fifth on the grid in the Supersport class on his CBR600RR, before being elevated to the front row for the re-started race following a two-rider crash and red flag on the opening lap. A first lap tussle saw Steve lose four places, before expertly slicing his way back through the field to claim second at the race finish. The Lincolnshire man now heads back to the Isle of Man to continue with this week's TT practice sessions, ahead of the first TT race next Saturday.
Australian Josh Brookes made his mark on the Superbike field with some superbly judged overtaking manoeuvres and riding a tight race line in race two, to take a well deserved third step on the rostrum. Team-mate Glen Richards struggled with rear grip in both races, coming away with sixth and seventh places in races one and two respectively.
In the Superstock 1000 championship, reigning champion Steve Brogan led the majority of the 15 lap race on his Padgett's Honda CBR1000RR Fireblade until the penultimate lap, having to accept second place at the chequered flag by just eight hundredths of a second off the leader. Brogie was the sole Padgett's Honda British Superstock contender this weekend as team-mate John McGuinness was unable to compete due to being at the Isle of Man for the start of the TT.
"I can't say that I'm happy with my results this weekend as finishing sixth and seventh is not where I know both the bike and myself are capable of being. I was suffering with lack of rear grip in both races but, half the field also had the same problem so no excuses. It's now three weeks to the next round so we've got a few ideas to try out on track then and hopefully get me back at the front of the field."
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Josh Brookes (#25)
"It's been a good weekend and I'm very happy to have been on the pace and on the podium in race two. We made some significant changes to the bike in between the races, mainly to help improve my seating position, but also had a good look through the data to see where I was losing time and see if there were ways I could alter my riding for this circuit. The combination of those two things clearly paid off. The team has been great as well and every time I've come in from a session they've really listened to what I'm feeling on the bike and made the right changes, so big thanks to my team and it's good to repay them with a podium."
British Supersport
BRITISH SUPERSPORT CHAMPIONSHIP
Qualifying: 5th
Race (16 laps): 2nd
Steve Plater (#22)
"It's been a busy weekend for sure, flying between Thruxton and the TT but I was able to get totally refocused today for the Supersport race. I got a bit pushed out in the first few laps and lost four places, but settled into a rhythm and began to make ground and overtake the guys in front. I could have possibly pushed for the win but rather than risk anything ahead of competing at the TT, it was better to settle for a solid second, which I'm happy with."
British Superstock 1000
BRITISH SUPERSTOCK 1000 CHAMPIONSHIP
Qualifying: 4th
Race (15 laps): 2nd
Steve Brogan (#1)
"The Fireblade has been running perfectly but we made a few changes to the bike between qualifying and warm-up specifically for set-up at this circuit and that increased my confidence for the race. I got off to a good start and set the race pace, feeling completely in control and also having a great dice with Seeley. I rode my heart out and had good fun today, but Seeley was the better man by eight thousandths of a second I'm disappointed to have not won, but there are still eight races to go so I'm not disheartened."
Summary
WEEKEND SUMMARY
Havier Beltran, HM Plant Honda Team Manager
"We've had a solid and positive weekend overall. Steve continues to do an awesome job in Supersport and showed again how competitive both he and the CBR600RR are in the way he fought through the field. Josh really got his head down this weekend and although race one didn't go quite to plan, he showed great maturity in his requested changes to the bike for race two and it shone through in his creditable ride and podium finish. It wasn't such a good weekend for Glen unfortunately who's been struggling with grip, but we believe we know where we can make changes for him to improve that. Brogie was so unlucky in Superstock to miss out on the win by a fraction of a second, but it was a fantastic and exciting race."
It's another quick turn round for the HM Plant Honda squad as the team and Steve Plater head straight to the Isle of Man to join 14-times TT winner John McGuinness and his bike crew already on the Island. TT practice continues this coming week, with the races spanning Saturday 6 to Saturday 13 June.
HM Plant Honda will return to England and head straight to Snetterton following the TT, for round five of the BSB Championship on 19-21 June
For further information about the HM Plant Honda team and its riders, please visit the all new-look website at www.honda-racing.co.uk.
