Three wins mark a successful day for HM Plant and Honda
at Thruxton
 The
Bennetts British Superbike season finally saw some racing
today at the super-fast Thruxton circuit in Hampshire and
it proved to be an excellent day for the HM Plant Honda team.
In the Superbike category Cal Crutchlow took his first win
in the class in the second race following his runner-up spot
in race one. Meanwhile in Supersport and Superstock Steve
Brogan completed a magnificent double by taking a win apiece
in both classes. One HM Plant teamster who was not so lucky
was Leon Haslam. The rider from Derbyshire was battling at
the front of the pack in both races and scored a fighting
fourth in race one, but succumbed to electrical problems while
in the leading group in the second race. He has vowed to bounce
back for the next race on the calendar – Oulton Park,
which takes place over the Bank Holiday weekend of May 3rd-5th.
British Eurosport will broadcast a package show of today’s
racing on Thursday.
Leon Haslam – HM Plant Honda
British Superbike – Honda CBR1000RR Fireblade
RACE ONE: 4th position
RACE TWO: DNF
“We managed to salvage a fourth place which is disappointing
considering what we should have been celebrating. In the second
race the result was out of everyone’s hands, it was
an electrical problem and that’s that. I’ve never
started well during a season but have been at the front come
the end of the year, so I’m confident that’s still
the way it’s going to be. We may be some way back of
the leaders, but we have some points and when I get more confidence
with the four-cylinder bike I’m sure I’ll be winning.
I do think that Oulton will suit the Honda more, so I’m
feeling pretty good for the next round.”
Cal Crutchlow – HM Plant Honda
British Superbike – Honda CBR1000RR Fireblade
RACE ONE: 2nd position
RACE TWO: 1st position
“Both the team and myself have worked so hard for this.
I’ve had a pretty good off-season and I’ve been
training hard. Apart from the hand injury things have been
going very well. In the first race Shane Byrne kept me honest,
I led for the first half of the race but second was the best
we could do. In the second race I managed to get away and
kept a pretty consistent gap of around two seconds right until
the end. Big thanks to HM Plant Honda and all my personal
sponsors. I’m confident there’s more of this to
come!”
Steve Brogan – HM Plant Honda / Honda (UK)
Racing
British Supersport – HM Plant Honda CBR600RR
1st position
British Superstock – Honda (UK) Racing CBR1000RR
Fireblade
1st position
“It doesn’t get much better than that, does it?
The team and both bikes have been great all weekend. This
is such an opportunity for me. I’ve prepared myself
for the year by training very hard over winter. I’ve
wanted a break like this with a top team and I feel I’m
ready for it. Practice and qualifying was good in both classes.
For the races I just wanted a good start so I could be with
the leaders. Glen Richards kept me honest in the 600 race
today, as did Jon Kirkham in Superstock. Jon pushed hard and
on the last lap he made a hard pass on me, but I managed to
get him at Club Chicane. I was strong on the brakes there
all day – Glen’s the last of the late brakers,
so to be passing him there is an achievement! I’m so
happy for myself, Honda and HM Plant to have such a good weekend:
the team’s buzzing!”
Havier Beltran – HM Plant Honda team manager
“Overall it has been a brilliant day – especially
with a win for the new Fireblade for both HM Plant Honda in
Superbikes and Honda (UK) Racing in Superstock. In the Superbike
class it was good to see both of our young riders up there
fighting for the win and great to see Cal up there on the
podium following race two after taking his debut win. Steve
took a double win in his races: it doesn’t get much
better than that. He first threw a leg over the new Fireblade
in Spain and the bike has been a revelation. For Leon we share
his disappointment. I can confirm it was an electrical problem
that put him out of race two and we will get to the bottom
of it. He was competitive today, so I’m sure he’ll
bounce back at Oulton Park.”
Bennetts British Superbike Championship
Race One Result
1. Shane Byrne – Ducati
2. Cal Crutchlow – HM Plant Honda
3. Michael Rutter – Ducati
4. Leon Haslam – HM Plant Honda
5. Leon Camier – Ducati
Race Two Result
1. Cal Crutchlow – HM Plant Honda
2. Shane Byrne – Ducati
3. Michael Rutter – Ducati
4. Leon Camier – Ducati
5. Michael Laverty –Suzuki
DNF. Leon Haslam – HM Plant Honda
Championship Points
1. Shane Byrne – 45 points – Ducati
2. Cal Crutchlow – 45 points – HM Plant Honda
3. Michael Rutter – 32 points – Ducati
4. Leon Camier – 24 points – Ducati
5. Tom Sykes – 18 points – Suzuki
9. Leon Haslam - 13 points – HM Plant Honda
Fuchs-Silkolene British Supersport Championship
1. Steve Brogan – 25 points – HM Plant Honda
2. Glen Richards – 20 points – Triumph
3. Chris Martin – 16 points – Kawasaki
4. Hudson Kennaugh – 13 points – Yamaha
5. Ian Lowry – 11 points – Suzuki
Metzeler National Superstock 1000 Championship
1. Steve Brogan – 25 points – HM Plant Honda
2. Jon Kirkham – 20 points – Yamaha
3. Cameron Donald – 16 points – Suzuki
4. Marshall Neill – 13 points – Suzuki
5. Peter Hickman – 11 points – Yamaha
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