Plater makes impression on world stage
TT winner Steve Plater scored an incredible 11th place finish in the Brands Hatch round of the World Supersport Championship on Sunday.
Plater, who won the first Supersport Junior race in at the 2008 Isle of Man TT, joined the Italian team Triumph Italia BE1 Racing to deputise for an injured rider. He was drafted in just two days before the first practice.
Despite only getting his first ride on the Triumph during Friday’s first free practice session, when he acclimatised himself with the bike and made adjustments to suit his riding style, Plater brought the machine home in 11th place at the end of the race.
Tragically, what had been a fine race was marred by an horrific accident involving young British rider Craig Jones. After 15 laps the race was red-flagged due to Jones’ accident and the result declared. The 23-year-old was transferred to hospital with severe head injuries and passed away a few hours later.
Although the race was overshadowed by the terrible loss of Jones, Plater was able to find some solace in a fine performance on the world stage.
He took 11th place in qualifying, despite only riding the three cylinder 675 Triumph for the first time the previous day.
However, intermittent showers spoilt his hopes of making the top 10.
Plater was running in 10th place on the opening lap, but rain was never very far away and began to affect the pace. He dropped back to 14th place until officials eventually decided to stop the race on lap nine.
At the restart Plater began to edge his way forward and was sitting in a comfortable 11th position ready to pounce on the riders ahead when the serious accident involving Jones brought out the red flag and a result was declared at 15 laps.
Plater’s 11th place earned him five championship points. He has now headed straight to Germany to prepare for the eight-hour World Endurance race on Saturday at Oschersleben.
The Lincolnshire rider said:
‘It was an eventful race with the changeable weather and the red flag for rain, which should have come earlier. Everyone was riding around sticking their hands up in the air for two laps.’
‘I am happy with the machine. We had one or two problems in the first half of the race so we made some changes for the re-start and went better. My lap times were very good, and I was faster than the four or five riders in front of me, but didn’t have the time to pass them before the red flag came out once again.’
Racing fans have been paying tribute to Craig Jones on the iomtt.com forum. To read the posts or leave your own tribute visit the forum.