It’s a long weekend of activities for the HM Plant Honda team this Bank Holiday weekend at Donington Park. Tomorrow sees Bladeday2, which celebrates this legendary Honda sportsbike, before practice, qualifying and racing takes place on Saturday, Sunday and Monday. All three HM Plant Honda riders race Fireblades in some form and they will be in attendance along with a host of celebrities from the history of this amazing motorcycle.
Leon Haslam will also be attending the THINK! Motorcycle Academy on Sunday at 12noon. The Academy aims to help riders learn more about further training to improve their road skills and will be based in the trade area within the central infield. Meanwhile, HM Plant Honda riders Leon Haslam, Cal Crutchlow and Steve Brogan will be aiming for more points in their respective championships during Monday’s race schedule at the 2.5-mile Derbyshire circuit.
Leon Haslam – HM Plant Honda
British Superbike – Honda CBR1000RR Fireblade“It's obviously time to put my recent disappointments behind me and my 'home' circuit of Donington Park is the place to do it. It's a place I probably know better than anywhere, really, as I instruct on my dad's race school 20 times a year and it's only 20-minutes down the road. I'm looking forward to riding the Honda around there. Ducati has dominated in the past – I took the double there last year – but I think the new CBR1000RR Fireblade will go well around Donington. It’s a very special circuit, so flowing for the majority of the lap and then stop-start at the Melbourne Loop where braking is key. For me it’s time to get some wins on the board.”
Cal Crutchlow – HM Plant Honda
British Superbike – Honda CBR1000RR Fireblade
“It’s been a frustrating week! Don’t get me wrong, the right ankle is healing very well, but I’ve had to keep the air-cast on as much as possible and that’s meant I can’t train as much as I normally do. All I’m allowed really is to sit down on a bike in the gym. Boring! I like to be running around everywhere but I can’t. The swelling has gone now, but it does swell a little after some activity. I’m looking forward to Donington so I can go and do something again! I’m really looking forward to Bladeday2 tomorrow and then getting down to racing. Consistency is still the key thing for the weekend but I’m still aiming for wins – and there’s no reason why I can’t.”
Steve Brogan – Honda (UK) Racing
British Supersport – Honda CBR600RR
British Superstock – Honda CBR1000RR Fireblade“I’m looking forward to Donington Park. It’s fair to say it’s one of my favourite tracks and I think both bikes will go well there. I’ve got a setting for the Superstock Fireblade which is good, so we’ll try that and I’ve got information from my ride last year on the Bikeanimal CBR600RR so hopefully that will give us a base from which to work on. The aim for the weekend is just to come away with as many points as possible in both classes. In Superstock I’d love to win again and keep my 100% record, while in Supersport I really need to come away with more points than Glen Richards or Hudson Kennaugh. With some of the guys from World Supersport appearing at Donington it would be nice to get one over on them if possible, too. First of all I’m going to enjoy Bladeday2 tomorrow at the circuit and help celebrate the history of this fantastic machine.”
Havier Beltran – HM Plant Honda team manager“The main aim for us at Donington Park is to get more points towards the various championships and we hope that all the riders have strong showings come race day on Monday. They all love riding at Donington so there’s no reason why they can’t all have a good day. Obviously with his luck so far this year and with Donington being his ‘home’ race, it would be nice to see Leon also get a couple of podiums. Cal’s injury is healing well, but he’s still far from fully-fit. Steve will be going for it in both classes again so it would be good to see another pair of podiums or better from him.”
