Steve Plater rode a scintillating race on Monday to take his maiden victory in the Relentless Supersport Junior TT run over four laps of the 37.73-mile Isle of Man mountain course. But Ian Hutchinson suffered more bad luck as he retired at Sulby Bridge with a blown engine on lap two.
Plater opened his account with a strong 10th place in Saturday’s Dainese Superbike race, the same position as in last year’s event, although this time his lap speeds had increased considerably.
In glorious sunshine and perfect conditions on Monday, the Junior TT got underway at 1.15pm. Plater made good progress and was clocked through Glen Helen in seventh place to complete the first lap in the same position.
The AIM Yamaha pit crew did a slick job at the refuelling stop after the second lap and quickly got Plater back out on the course, so much so that he made up a further two places to slot into fifth place.
Lap three saw Plater make up ground to pass Ryan Farquhar on time to take up fourth place and then reel in Keith Amor who was holding the final podium position of third.
By the time the pair reached Glen Helen on the final lap, Plater was ahead and in third place. With half a lap remaining he was catching John McGuinness on time and a fast run from Ramsey to the Bungalow checkpoint saw him overhaul the multi TT winner to claim second place, which he held to the chequered flag.
But less than three hours later Plater found himself proclaimed the race winner as Bruce Anstey’s Relentless Tas Suzuki was checked and the exhaust cam measurement found to be illegal, giving race officials no alternative but to exclude the New Zealand rider from the results.
Steve Plater "I was stunned to find I had been awarded the race win. At the end of the race I had no idea I had even finished second. I didn’t have any boards around the circuit but one of the Phase One guys waved their board at me to say I was P5 a couple of times and I thought that would be a good result. But then when I went through on my last lap it said P3 and I thought, flipping heck that’s good. But then coming out of Ramsey and up May Hill I made a mistake on the approach to the hairpin so I was a bit cross with myself. All I wanted to do was keep it smooth over the mountain and bring it home in third so I couldn’t believe it when they ushered me into the second place spot."
"Now I am actually the race winner it’s just awesome, my head is in a big snowball right now and I can’t believe what I have just done. I am not too bothered that I didn’t get on the top step at the podium ceremony. In years to come people will forget all that. But it’s my name that will go onto the trophy, as the winner of the 2008 Junior TT race one and that’s what counts."
"I have to thank the AIM Yamaha pit crew who have worked their socks off these last few weeks, first at the North West 200 and now all through the TT fortnight. They have done a sterling job for the team and this win is their reward."
Ian Hutchinson was left bitterly disappointed he could not share Plater’s success. He was unfortunate to retire from the Superbike race on lap three on Saturday and again on lap two in the Junior TT on Monday with a mechanical failure.
Things just have not gone his way this year with problems during practice week and now two retirements during race week. But Hutchy will bounce back and be determined to complete the second Junior TT on Wednesday and the Senior on Friday in a strong position for AIM Yamaha.
Wednesday’s Junior TT is scheduled for a start at 10.45am followed after the sidecar race by practice for the Senior which is due to take place on Friday at noon.
Picture 1: shows Steve Plater on his way to victory in the Junior TT
Picture 2: shows Ian Hutchinson's disappointment as he sits out the race at Sulby.
Image Credit Baylon McCaughley
