The Bennetts British Superbike season finally saw some racing today at the super-fast Thruxton circuit in Hampshire and it proved to be an excellent day for the HM Plant Honda team.
In the Superbike category Cal Crutchlow took his first win in the class in the second race following his runner-up spot in race one. Meanwhile in Supersport and Superstock Steve Brogan completed a magnificent double by taking a win apiece in both classes.
One HM Plant teamster who was not so lucky was Leon Haslam.
The rider from Derbyshire was battling at the front of the pack in both races and scored a fighting fourth in race one, but succumbed to electrical problems while in the leading group in the second race.
He has vowed to bounce back for the next race on the calendar – Oulton Park, which takes place over the Bank Holiday weekend of May 3rd-5th. British Eurosport will broadcast a package show of today’s racing on Thursday.
Leon Haslam – HM Plant Honda
British Superbike – Honda CBR1000RR Fireblade
RACE ONE: 4th position
RACE TWO: DNF
“We managed to salvage a fourth place which is disappointing considering what we should have been celebrating. In the second race the result was out of everyone’s hands, it was an electrical problem and that’s that. I’ve never started well during a season but have been at the front come the end of the year, so I’m confident that’s still the way it’s going to be. We may be some way back of the leaders, but we have some points and when I get more confidence with the four-cylinder bike I’m sure I’ll be winning. I do think that Oulton will suit the Honda more, so I’m feeling pretty good for the next round.”
Cal Crutchlow – HM Plant Honda
British Superbike – Honda CBR1000RR Fireblade
RACE ONE: 2nd position
RACE TWO: 1st position
“Both the team and myself have worked so hard for this. I’ve had a pretty good off-season and I’ve been training hard. Apart from the hand injury things have been going very well. In the first race Shane Byrne kept me honest, I led for the first half of the race but second was the best we could do. In the second race I managed to get away and kept a pretty consistent gap of around two seconds right until the end. Big thanks to HM Plant Honda and all my personal sponsors. I’m confident there’s more of this to come!”
Steve Brogan – HM Plant Honda / Honda (UK) Racing
British Supersport – HM Plant Honda CBR600RR
1st position
British Superstock – Honda (UK) Racing CBR1000RR Fireblade
1st position
“It doesn’t get much better than that, does it? The team and both bikes have been great all weekend. This is such an opportunity for me. I’ve prepared myself for the year by training very hard over winter. I’ve wanted a break like this with a top team and I feel I’m ready for it. Practice and qualifying was good in both classes. For the races I just wanted a good start so I could be with the leaders. Glen Richards kept me honest in the 600 race today, as did Jon Kirkham in Superstock. Jon pushed hard and on the last lap he made a hard pass on me, but I managed to get him at Club Chicane. I was strong on the brakes there all day – Glen’s the last of the late brakers, so to be passing him there is an achievement! I’m so happy for myself, Honda and HM Plant to have such a good weekend: the team’s buzzing!”
Havier Beltran – HM Plant Honda team manager
“Overall it has been a brilliant day – especially with a win for the new Fireblade for both HM Plant Honda in Superbikes and Honda (UK) Racing in Superstock. In the Superbike class it was good to see both of our young riders up there fighting for the win and great to see Cal up there on the podium following race two after taking his debut win. Steve took a double win in his races: it doesn’t get much better than that. He first threw a leg over the new Fireblade in Spain and the bike has been a revelation. For Leon we share his disappointment. I can confirm it was an electrical problem that put him out of race two and we will get to the bottom of it. He was competitive today, so I’m sure he’ll bounce back at Oulton Park.”
Bennetts British Superbike Championship
Race One Result:
1. Shane Byrne – Ducati
2. Cal Crutchlow – HM Plant Honda
3. Michael Rutter – Ducati
4. Leon Haslam – HM Plant Honda
5. Leon Camier – Ducati
Race Two Result:
1. Cal Crutchlow – HM Plant Honda
2. Shane Byrne – Ducati
3. Michael Rutter – Ducati
4. Leon Camier – Ducati
5. Michael Laverty –Suzuki
DNF. Leon Haslam – HM Plant Honda
Championship Points:
1. Shane Byrne – 45 points – Ducati
2. Cal Crutchlow – 45 points – HM Plant Honda
3. Michael Rutter – 32 points – Ducati
4. Leon Camier – 24 points – Ducati
5. Tom Sykes – 18 points – Suzuki
9. Leon Haslam - 13 points – HM Plant Honda
Fuchs-Silkolene British Supersport Championship
1. Steve Brogan – 25 points – HM Plant Honda
2. Glen Richards – 20 points – Triumph
3. Chris Martin – 16 points – Kawasaki
4. Hudson Kennaugh – 13 points – Yamaha
5. Ian Lowry – 11 points – Suzuki
Metzeler National Superstock 1000 Championship
1. Steve Brogan – 25 points – HM Plant Honda
2. Jon Kirkham – 20 points – Yamaha
3. Cameron Donald – 16 points – Suzuki
4. Marshall Neill – 13 points – Suzuki
5. Peter Hickman – 11 points – Yamaha
Check out www.honda-racing.co.uk for more on Honda’s racing activities.
