2008 marks the start of a new era for the all-conquering HM Plant Honda team in the Bennetts British Superbike Championship.
At a ceremony at the Sports Café in Newcastle yesterday, the 2008 team was unveiled, a team that hopes to take a clean sweep of the major British road-racing championships. In the Superbike class, HM Plant Honda has two new riders in Leon Haslam and Cal Crutchlow, a new machine in the awesome Honda CBR1000RR Fireblade and they will be using new Pirelli control tyres.
All of this adds even more spice and excitement to the championship, which this year will be held over 12 rounds between April and October. Running alongside the championship will be the Supersport and Superstock series in which Steve Brogan will be aiming for success in both classes. Last season Brogan did well as a substitute in the Supersport class and was second in the Superstock series – he aims to go one better this year.
On the roads, Brogan will be making his return to the North West 200, while current lap record holder John McGuinness will once more be aiming to master the gruelling Isle of Man TT course.
Leon Haslam
British Superbike – Honda CBR1000RR Fireblade
“I’m so looking forward to this year. For me, the biggest thing is to be back with Honda, as they’ve been part of my family and gave me my first big break. I need to take the title this year, I should have had it for the last couple of years, but it proved a little too hard to beat the Hondas on the Ducati! The opposition is going well and are going to be tough to beat, but in testing we’ve been quickest pretty much everywhere and that’s been a massive confidence booster before the start of the season. The best thing is that since testing, the bikes have been in the workshop for the last two weeks and the boys are still finding more from the bike. I’ve worked with Pirelli in the past in World Superbike and I know that set-up of the bike is going to be important, but I’ve got the experience now to do what it takes to win the title.”
Cal Crutchlow
British Superbike – Honda CBR1000RR Fireblade
“I know I need to win races this year and the HM Plant Honda squad is the dream team to do it with. When you look at their results over the last few seasons – including last year’s 1-2 with Kiyo and Rea – they want success and nothing less. Leon will help push me hard, as he’s been a title contender for the last few years: I’m looking forward to that challenge. Testing went fantastic in Spain, although I had a small crash which left me with an injury. I was still sore at Guadix, but I’m looking forward to getting to the first round at Brands. I had a three-year plan in British Supersport and won the title in my third year and I have a two-year plan in British Superbike before I win it and this is my second year! The Bennetts British Superbike Championship is the best domestic series in the world and I want to win before going onto the world scene.”
Steve Brogan
British Supersport – Honda CBR600RR
British Superstock – Honda CBR1000RR Fireblade
“I’m over the moon to be part of the HM Plant Honda team. Doing both Supersport and Superstock will make for a busy weekend, but I proved I could do it last season and the more time on track for me the better! It’s a dream come true for me and I can now concentrate on both championships. I truly believe I’m in the best team and riding for the biggest and best motorcycle manufacturer so it’s a real privilege. I’ve only been to the North West 200 twice, and the last time a mechanical problem kept me out of the race, so I’m looking to make amends this year.”
Isle of Man TT races – Honda CBR1000RR Fireblade
John McGuinness
“After last year’s successful Isle of Man campaign I want more of the same for this year. We’ve got a new bike, but one – which I’m sure – will be able to do the business: it looks fantastic! It will be interesting to see if the lap record can be pushed any further, but to be honest, all I want to do is carry on winning for Honda on the Isle of Man first and foremost so that’s going to be the main aim. We want to show that the Honda CBR1000RR is the best litre class road bike out there and the TT course is still the ultimate challenge.”
Havier Beltran – HM Plant Honda team manager
“We’re looking for consistency this year. We have a brand new bike, new riders and a control tyre. These are new elements and we all need to pull in the same direction to get the desired results. I have confidence in the team, riders and machinery – in fact all the teams in the Superbike paddock have changed riders and tyres, so effectively we’re in the same boat. We will all work hard to do the best job we can so we can win the manufacturer and rider’s title in Superbike as well as secure the Supersport and Superstock titles. That’s what we’re aiming for.”
