ROUND TEN, BENNETTS BRITISH SUPERBIKE CHAMPIONSHIP
06 September 2005 - Colin Appleyard Racing

HYDREX HONDA SCORE POINTS AS BOTH RIDERS DIG DEEP IN RACE TWO AT CADWELL

Qualifying

Such is the intensity of the 2005 series that track speeds are up and lap records fall on a regular basis at each circuit on the calender.
Cadwell is the local circuit for Hydrex Honda’s Steve Plater and big things were expected of him throughout the weekend.

The pole position time was almost two seconds under the lap record held by Yukio Kagayama and Steve Plater came close to that magical barrier only to find he was on row five. Kieran Clarke faired little better and would start the race from row six in twenty-third place.

Race One

A start-line crash in the 125cc race cast a shadow over proceedings and the opening Superbike encounter took place under that somber ambience.

Nonetheless, the action was frantic and both Hydrex Honda riders were starting from lowly grid positions.

Steve Plater was promoted to row four with the non-appearance of Dennis Hobbs and from the lights Plater got stuck in to the job in hand.

Steve Plater was allocated Dunlop “N Tech” rubber for this meeting and hoped to put that to good use.

As the race unfolded, he became more confident with the new rubber and the ultra-fast Hydrex Honda. Lap after lap he picked off mid-field runners and gradually moved into the points.

Meanwhile, Kieran Clarke was circulating in eighteenth place but making steady lap times.

On lap eleven, Plater was up to eleventh and made a play for Jonathan Rea at the foot of the mountain section. As he peeled into the right-hander, the front end folded and he went down across the grass bringing Rea down in the process.

This and one or two other incidents elevated Keiran Clarke to within sniffing distance of the points.

Race Two

In glorious sunshine the Titans clashed again and both Hydrex Honda riders made the most of their starts.

Keiran Clarke was in eighteenth first time round but he was in very fast company.

Plater had a race-long battle with Gary Mason and Dean Thomas and finally succumbed to John Reynolds who was making up ground on the Rizla Suzuki.

The race pace was furious and Plater was reeling off lap after lap in the 29’s to drag himself higher up the order.

Clarke too was having a very determined ride and was soon in the points.

When championship leader Michael Rutter crashed out, both Hydrex Honda riders were elevated in the overall.

At the flag, Plater came home in ninth for seven title points and Clarke claimed thirteenth and three more for his tally.

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