As revealed by www.bikesportnews.com last week, Josh Brookes and Glen Richards will ride for the HM Plant Honda British Superbike team next season.

Richards is stepping up from the Supersport championship which he won with Embassy Triumph this season, while Brookes comes in from the Stiggy Honda World Supersport outfit.

“I’m looking forward to the opportunity and want to give it 110%. I’m well up for this challenge and I intend to give it my all! I’ve won two championships in a row with Superstock and now Supersport, so to make it three-in-a-row is the aim and to add a Superbike title would be awesome," said Richards

"I’ve never had a ‘factory’ ride as such in the BSB series, so I do feel I have unfinished business in the championship and something to prove. Modern Superbikes are smaller now, much like the 600-class machines I’ve been riding. I’ve also been used to big power before, I know the tracks and I’m used to the control tyre, so I’m looking forward to 2009!”

Brookes added: “I’ve joined HM Plant Honda as I wanted to find a team which is a happy place to work and one with a good family, but also professional, atmosphere.

“When I did the one-off ride at Brands, it showed me how well the team worked together and although I was only with them for a few days, it felt like I’d been with them all season. That was important. They’ve got a straight-forward and effective way of working and I like that.

"The HM Plant Honda CBR1000RR Fireblades have shown this season they can challenge for the title, so I think I can get the bike working well regardless of having not been to most of the tracks. The tracks themselves are quite similar to some of the ones I raced on in Australia, the only difference is the weather, but I’m good in the wet so that’s no bother either!”