The HM Plant Honda team head to Cadwell Park this Bank Holiday weekend for round nine of the Bennetts British Superbike Championship. With the team based just down the road in Louth, the 2.18-mile Lincolnshire circuit is looked upon as their ‘home’ round. In the Superbike class, both Leon Haslam and Cal Crutchlow are now winners on the new-for-2008 CBR1000RR Fireblade and both will be eager to chalk up further victories before the end of the season. In the Metzeler National Superstock 1000 championship, Steve Brogan wants to move closer to the title with another win, which would leave him needing just one point from the remaining three rounds to secure the crown. In the Fuchs-Silkolene British Supersport series, the team has made a number of small changes to his HM Plant Honda CBR600RR to make him even more competitive at the track.
Leon Haslam – HM Plant HondaBritish Superbike – Honda CBR1000RR Fireblade“After the win last time out I’m looking forward to Cadwell. We’ve been making progress all year with the bike and while it’s got a way to go, I can ride it properly now and I’m confident to be able to ride it hard. At Cadwell confidence is just what you need as it’s a technical track. I’ve won there every year recently, so that’s a good point. I’ve also got the lap record at the moment and I’ve been on pole every year – albeit on the Ducati – but I’m looking forward to seeing how the CBR1000R Fireblade goes around HM Plant Honda’s home circuit.”
Cal Crutchlow – HM Plant HondaBritish Superbike – Honda CBR1000RR Fireblade“I love Cadwell Park. It’s a wonderful and very special track for me. The layout is exciting, there’s the thrill of the jump over The Mountain and it’s glorious to race there, even if it is a little narrow. I took my first Supersport win there a few years back, and I hope one day to carry that success through to the Superbike class too. It’s also a track where it’s very important to HM Plant Honda to do well, as our team HQ and workshop is in Louth just down the road.”
Steve Brogan – HM Plant HondaBritish Supersport – Honda CBR600RRBritish Superstock – Honda CBR1000RR Fireblade“Cadwell has always been up there as a good track for me. It’s good fun to ride around as there’s a bit of everything really: fast and slow corners, uphill sections, blind corners. It’s similar to Oulton Park really. Obviously it depends on the weather again as to what can happen, but as always I’m just going to get out there and give it my best. I want another Superstock race win because with that I just have to score one point at the next round to take the title for the new Honda Fireblade and myself. In Supersport the lads have made a few changes to the gearbox settings of the HM Plant CBR600RR, so I’m hoping for better things. The biggest thing is to get a better start, so we’ve shortened the gearing a little to help with this.”
Havier Beltran – HM Plant Honda team manager“The weather is looking OK for the weekend which is positive. I think the fans, riders and teams alike are fed up of the changeable conditions throughout each day and over each weekend! We want sunshine... Leon and Cal are both up for it and they’ve both now won races on their HM Plant Honda Fireblades. Leon has had good results in the past at Cadwell, Cal too, so that’s very positive. We know the circuit well. It’s a circuit with plenty of character and it’s great for spectators as they can see most parts of the circuit and can get close to the riders. In the other championships Steve is in a great position in Superstock, but anything can happen so we will not be taking any chances. With the HM Plant Honda CBR600RR we’ve made some changes to the bike so we’re hoping he can scoop a top five finish and get some more points.”
