The 2008 Bennetts British Superbike series kicks off this weekend with the Honda trio of Leon Haslam, Cal Crutchlow and Steve Brogan ready for action.
In the Superbike class, the HM Plant Honda duo of Haslam and Crutchlow are looking forward to getting back to the cut-and-thrust of racing after a winter of testing on their CBR1000RR Fireblades.
Meanwhile Brogan is faced with a busy year, riding his HM Plant CBR600RR in the British Supersport Championship and his Honda (UK) Racing Fireblade in the Superstock class.
The opening races of the season are held at one of the most charismatic of British racetracks – the Brands Hatch GP circuit – which features high and low-speed corners, as well as a number of elevation changes in its 2.3-mile length.
This year's calendar takes in 12 events between April and October and Eurosport will feature a regular four-hour race-day show, which will come from the track live, featuring both Superbike races and the Supersport race.
Leon Haslam – HM Plant Honda
British Superbike – Honda CBR1000RR Fireblade
“I’m so looking forward to the weekend. It’s seemed like such a long winter! As the first race has been getting closer I’ve just been getting more and more excited. For me this is a new bike and a new team and it seems as if everyone is on different bikes for 2008. Brands will finally show us where we’re at against the competition on one of the best tracks in the World. The full Brands Hatch circuit has everything, including some high-speed corners, which are rare on most tracks in the UK. Despite our snowed-off test at Snetterton, we’ve had some mixed weather testing at Croft and Knockhill, which was what we needed as I’ve not ridden on these Pirelli wets before.”
Cal Crutchlow – HM Plant Honda
British Superbike – Honda CBR1000RR Fireblade
“I can’t wait for that first race! My nerves are kicking in but all I can describe it as is ‘excited’ nerves rather than ‘worried’ nerves! When the first weekend is out of the way I will calm down. For the first two races of the season I want a solid weekend’s performance and that would be two podium finishes. Sure, I want to win, but it’s early days and you can’t win the championship at the first event of the year, but you can lose it. Testing at Croft and Knockhill was good – despite the weather. I was quicker on the Honda than I’ve ever been in the rain before so that’s a positive result.”
Steve Brogan – Honda (UK) Racing
British Supersport – Honda CBR600RR
British Superstock – Honda CBR1000RR Fireblade
“2008 is going to be a very busy year and a real challenge, but I’m hoping to be fighting for the championship in both classes! I’ve been training really hard over the winter and lost a bit of weight to help me on the 600. I’ve had a taste of riding in both classes before, the most recent being last year when I subbed for Ian Hutchinson in the Supersport class and was always in the top five in both classes. In Superstock this year I really feel that the new Fireblade will give us an edge in the Superstock class – it’s like a race bike in standard trim.”
Havier Beltran – HM Plant Honda team manager
“It’s good to get back racing, but the whole team has been flat-out since the end of last season with numerous tasks and since February working on the new Fireblades. Our recent tests at Croft and Knockhill were useful – if a little frustrating, as it would have been nice to have some really good weather to test in before going to Brands. At least we’ve now managed some wet-weather riding on the Pirelli wets. Ahead of the race our expectations are always high – especially considering our achievements in the last two seasons. We’re confident that we will be fighting at the front in all classes.”
Check out www.honda-racing.co.uk for more on Honda’s racing activities and www.honda.co.uk/motorcycles for more on Honda’s extensive range of two-wheelers, including the Honda CBR1000RR Fireblade and CBR600RR sports machines.
