HM Plant Honda head home to Cadwell Park
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 Honda
British 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 Honda
British 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 Honda
British Supersport – Honda CBR600RR
British 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.”
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