Padgetts Motorcycles Steve Brogan says the Metzeler National Superstock 1000 championship at Silverstone will be just as hard a weekend as any other even though the now 2009 Champion Alastair Seeley has moved into Superbikes.
Brogan said: “Alastair and I weren’t the only ones on the pace you can’t take anything for granted.  I am approaching this weekend as I would any other weekend there and it is going to be as tough as ever.  Superstock has been as tough and competitive this year as it has always has been.”
“Seeley has sown the championship up now and fair play to him he’s done a mega job.  Suzuki was the best package, it had a little bit of an edge over me on speed, but Hondas and Padgetts have done a fantastic job for me, I’ve really enjoyed my racing.”
Brogan has stood on the podium in second six times and once in third, but has not yet taken the win.  Following the first qualifying session he currently sits fifth on the grid even after knocking eight tenths off his practice time and being only five tenths off pole position.
From round to round Brogan never really has to change much on the bike to suit each track as they have a good base setting so it is more of him fine tuning and getting his head down to get the best results he can for him and the team.
To add to an already challenging season Brogan also rode as a replacement rider for H M Plant Honda in the Superbikes round at Mallory park and Brands Hatch.  Talking about his experience and riding in the championship he wants to ride in full time he said: “It was good fun and a good experience but I was kind of thrown in at the deep end a bit.  We had no testing and it was a case of doing what you can. I don’t think I embarrassed myself, I did the best I could.”
On his first outing on the Honda CBR1000 at Mallory after qualifying 23rd Brogan finished an astonishing seventh and eighth on race day.  At the following round on the GP circuit at Brands Hatch he qualified 14th which was hindered by a crash in the second qualifying session.  In the unusual format of three races that weekend he finished  14th, eighth and 11th.
Brogan said: “I proved to myself that I can be competitive on a Superbike, I absolutely loved the whole experience of riding a Superbike and seeing the differences from a Superstock to a Superbike.”
“With seeing the differences I saw where I need to improve myself and there are a couple of little areas I think I can improve and make myself a better rider.  All in all it was a good experience just hope I have done enough in my riding performances this year to enable me to get a good opportunity in Superbikes next year.”