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STEVE PLATER CLAIMS SECOND AT MALLORY PARK

Author: Helen Pask
Posted on: Monday, Jun 30 2008



Plater was on top form throughout the weekend and his qualifying position of sixth did not reflect the effort put in by himself and the AIM Yamaha support team.

“I am not happy with sixth as I wanted a front row really. We have been on the pace all weekend and just needed a bit more time to get a clear lap in. I think perhaps I have been attacking a bit too hard sooner than settling down,” said Plater. “The trouble is, at Mallory it is hard to get a clear lap in and when you do finally get a clear run you try that bit too hard and cause yourself problems.

“But my race pace is very good so I just need to get off the line well and it should go ok. Glen Richards is very, very fast and he will take some beating without a doubt.”

Just as the riders formed the grid a heavy shower of rain caused problems to the start procedure. They sat it out on the grid hoping the rain would quickly clear away.

After a lengthy delay and with rain still falling, it was declared a wet race and the teams were given a short time to make a final tyre choice – with most opting for full wets and because of the delay the race was cut to 24 laps.

Plater got away to the good start he had hope for and slotted into second place behind series leader Glen Richards. But wet weather specialist Hudson Kennaugh came past the pair to establish an unbeatable lead, leaving Plater and Richards to fight it out for second place.

Plater caught and passed Richards on lap nine and despite a challenge from Ian Lowry mid-race, rode through untroubled to take second place and his second podium finish in as many races.

“I am happy enough with second today,” said Plater. “Glen got away at the front and I made it through to second straight away. I sat behind him for a while and then Kennaugh came past both of us on the exit to Edwina’s chicane going very fast. I was not prepared to go that quick and risk a crash in the slippery conditions so I sat behind Glen before making my move into second and kept my position under control.

“I thought someone was going to have a go at me in the closing stages but when I looked over my shoulder at Gerrard’s on the last lap I couldn’t believe there was no one there. I think perhaps I was a bit more aggressive going through the back markers and therefore pulled a gap.”

This result puts Plater up to seventh in the rider standings on 45 points after just two races and at the midway stage of the championship.

But he will miss two of the remaining six rounds as he has commitments in the World Endurance championship. The date clash means he will miss the Knockhill and Croft races but will contest the remaining four rounds, the next being at Oulton Park on July 20.




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