HM Plant Honda teamsters John McGuinness and Steve Brogan will line up this evening for the first practice for Saturday’s Kennedy International North West 200. The North West 200 circuit runs between the towns of Portrush, Portstewart and Coleraine in Northern Ireland and has a history stretching back to 1929. Roads master McGuinness is a previous winner in the Superbike class at the event, while Brogan is a relative newcomer to the famous race.
John will be riding in the Superbike class aboard the awesome new 2008 Honda CBR1000RR Fireblade, based closely on the machines used in the Bennetts British Superbike championship. The major differences include the use of Dunlop instead of Pirelli tyres, more power thanks to different regulations, while the suspension will be set-up softer for the harsher conditions found on the nine-mile ‘Triangle’ circuit. Steve will be taking part in the Superstock class on his CBR1000RR and will also be riding a HM Plant Honda CBR600RR in the S upersport race. John will be riding in Padgetts colours in the 600 and 250cc races.
Practice sessions are held tonight and Thursday with racing taking place on Saturday 17th May. For more on the North West 200 races, go to: www.northwest200.org, while details on coverage for this unique event can be found on:
www.bbc.co.uk/nw200.
John McGuinness – HM Plant Honda
Superbike – Honda CBR1000RR Fireblade“The North West 200 is one of the high points of my year and this year's event will be no different. I've won in the past and will be aiming for the same aboard my HM Plant Honda Fireblade in the Superbike class. The North West is one of the best events I've ever taken part in. The fans love the action and there's always such a good crowd.”
Chris Pike, chief technician:
“We always enjoy going to the North West 200, it’s a unique event and we love The Anchor Pub – that’s our favourite watering hole! Working at the race after being at the British Superbike races is always a bit of an eye-opener. Set-up wise with the bike, things have to be very different. The roads are bumpier than normal racetracks so the bike will be set-up softer. As pure road-racing is a big confidence thing you follow what the rider wants a bit more: it’s whatever makes him as confident as possible, so he can go as fast as he can. Things are a little different in BSB, we’ll force the issue a little more and be a bit more aggressive with the rider to try and get him to try a set-up route that we suggest.”
Steve Brogan – HM Plant Honda
Superstock – Honda CBR1000RR Fireblade
Supersport – Honda CBR600RR“I’ve been to the North West twice before, but not really on competitive bikes. The first time was when I was 18 back in 1999 and I went there in a van by myself and prepped bikes myself, too. I guess I really went over there for the fun side of it and I really loved it. The next time I went was in 2005 on the McAdoo Kawasaki but didn’t race as the bike had a gearbox fault. I’m looking forward to the event this year as I’m with a competitive team and I’m going to give my best. There’s no pressure really as the roads are a different ball game all together and I’m wise enough to know it takes time to learn to go fast. I’m here to enjoy it and do enough to make the team and myself happy.”
Havier Beltran – HM Plant Honda team manager“We’ve had to make some last minute changes to the make-up of the HM Plant Honda team. Due to the close proximity of the re-scheduled Brands Hatch Bennetts British Superbike race at the weekend to the North West, we’ve moved Steve from the Superbike to the Superstock class. This is simply a result of logistics and remembering that the next BSB round is only two weeks away. The North West 200 is a fantastic event and one at which we’ve done very well at in the past. Last year John McGuinness won a Superbike race for us, and the year before Steve Plater did the double in the class. It’s good that we’ve been at the front of the racing for so many years as the event is very important to Honda and our sponsor HM Plant, giving them extra recognition in Northern Ireland. We work very closely with our dealer network over there and with organiser Mervyn Whyte MBE to help make the event the huge success it always is. The hospitality of the locals is legendary and the sheer numbers o f spectators who turn up – generally in excess of 150,000 – make the event one of the biggest in the UK. I’d like to think we could get a podium with John in the Superbikes and hopefully get a top six finish from Steve in both his races.”
