HM Plant Honda’s Steve Plater was back on track Wednesday at Brands Hatch for the first time since his high-speed crash at the North West 200, completing laps on the Indy circuit. He joined Australian Bryan Staring who deputised for him at Snetterton and will also return to the Metzeler National Superstock 1000 Championship grid at Brands Hatch next weekend (7/8/9 August).

Steve has been sidelined since his crash as he recovers from two broken vertebrae and a broken wrist, but the reigning British Supersport champion is hopeful of a comeback at his home round at Cadwell Park on the August Bank Holiday weekend.

In the meantime Staring will return with the team for next weekend’s Brands Hatch Grand Prix round and he used the track time to learn the Indy section of the track before he joined Plater for a lap of the Grand Prix circuit by car ahead of his debut on the 2.3-mile circuit.

Steve said:

“I haven’t ridden a bike since 13 May when I crashed at the North West 200, but it felt so good being back out on track today. I didn’t really know what to expect as I still have a slight numbness in my fingers, but once I was out there I had not issues at all. This morning I woke up and I was revving for it; I was just so excited about getting the leathers back on and doing some laps in a relaxed fashion.

“I am happy enough at the end of the day, we haven’t been on the race bike but I have done loads of laps on the Honda Hornet and having completed today I am still targeting a return at Cadwell Park. I am still having physio twice a week and I am getting better every day, so once I have seen the specialist in Nottingham before Cadwell Park and seen the BSB medical staff I should be all systems go. It has been great to help Bryan out here too and show him around the place before next weekend. I just can’t wait to get back out there now having watched from the sidelines for so long.”

Bryan said:

“We have had a good day at Brands Hatch and I have been really lucky to have had Steve here with me to share his experiences of the circuit, as it definitely helped me get to grips with the circuit faster. I feel more confident now that I have seen the circuit and I am happy with the Indy circuit – the Grand Prix section looks awesome and I can’t wait to get out there on the HM Plant Honda next weekend. I now have a round under my belt with the team and have experience on the bike so that should put us in a strong position ahead of next weekend.”