Practice sessions will be vital for the 32-year-old Lincolnshire rider as he makes the adjustment from the Honda Racing VTR1000 SP-2 he campaigned in 2003 to the British Superbike specification Honda-Racing.co.uk CBR1000RR Fireblade of Karl Harris. Plater’s appearance at the famous Northern Irish triangle circuit saw him finish on the podium in third position.



He is aiming for a similar result on Saturday 21 May in at least one of the two eight-lap Superbike races. Plater is riding the Dunlop-shod Honda-Racing.co.uk machine in the Dewalt and Blackhorse North West 200 Superbike races.



The North West 200 is one of Ulster’s most popular sporting events, which attracts over 200 competitors and 100,000 spectators annually to the North Antrim coast. The 8.9-mile circuit includes fast straights, blind crests and tight bends, which link the towns of Portrush, Portstewart and Coleraine.



Steve Plater: “I’m really looking forward to the two races this weekend, because this is one of my favourite events. It’s great to be back with Honda Racing as well and I’m excited about riding the new CBR1000RR Fireblade. Having seen its performance from close quarters in this year’s British Superbike Championship with Karl Harris, I think that it will perform really well here.”