The HM Plant Honda team heads to Scotland for round eight of the Bennetts British Superbike Championship this weekend. In the Superbike class, Cal Crutchlow - currently second in the overall standings - and team-mate Leon Haslam, fourth, will both be aiming for wins and podium finishes at the 1.27-mile circuit. Steve Brogan is making a good recovery from breaking two metatarsal bones in his left foot in a crash at Mallory Park earlier on in the season, and he will be chasing victories in both the Metzeler National Superstock 1000 class and the Fuchs-Silkolene British Supersport series. Knockhill marks the arrival of Exide Technologies as a sponsor of the HM Plant Honda team who will be on-board for the remainder of the season.
Leon Haslam - HM Plant Honda
British Superbike - Honda CBR1000RR Fireblade "I'm still desperately chasing my maiden win this year, but I'm confident it will come as we've been pretty consistent of late, battling for the podium positions in the races. I've also won before at Knockhill, so that's a good sign. We know how tricky the conditions can be at Knockhill - well, we've seen them be tricky everywhere so far this season - but we just want to get our heads down from tomorrow onwards and get a good set-up for the race wet or dry."
Cal Crutchlow - HM Plant Honda
British Superbike - Honda CBR1000RR Fireblade "I'm so fired up for this weekend. I want wins - nothing else. Knockhill is tight and twisty and it's up-hill and down-dale but I do enjoy going north of the border. I'm hoping the sun will shine but we will do our best whatever the weather. This will be a special, but hard weekend for me, after one of my best mates - Craig Jones - passed away at the start of the week. I will be wearing one of his actual helmets that he wore this season for the weekend and I'll be proud to do so and I hope my results will make him proud of me."
Steve Brogan - HM Plant Honda
British Supersport - Honda CBR600RR
British Superstock - Honda CBR1000RR Fireblade "My left foot is still not 100% but it's definitely not going to bother me on the bike this weekend. I have been training on it, and walking on it - but not running. Mentally I've been preparing myself for going out there to win both races. There's no reason why I can't do that. Knockhill is a short circuit, but it's one of my favourites and I always seem to do well there. I'm hoping to qualify really well in the Supersport race - I'm desperate to win another 600 race this season, while in Superstock another maximum would stretch my lead over Jon Kirkham, which would be perfect. At this circuit it's vital to qualify well and be on the front row. Worst-case scenario you really want to be on the first two rows. Either way, I'm feeling confident and want two good results."
Havier Beltran - HM Plant Honda team manager
"At Knockhill we're confident that both Leon and Cal are capable of podiums and more in the Superbike class aboard their Honda CBR1000RR Fireblades. The guys have had a bit of a break - as well as doing the Suzuka Eight-Hour race in Japan - but back at base the mechanics have worked hard on the bikes, especially on chassis set-up so we want to be able to build on the improvements we made at Oulton Park. With Steve, he's had a further two weeks off for his foot to recover still further so he's keen for good results at Knockhill. The Scottish round also is the first where we welcome a new sponsor to the HM Plant Honda family. Exide Technologies will be joining us as a sponsor of the HM Plant Honda team until the end of this year. We hope that the deal will be very positive for both parties and that the relationship will be a long and fruitful one. Exide Technologies are a leading company in the battery industry and we're proud to be associated with them, as they have strong links with our parent company Honda."
