Four-time British Superbike race winner Steve Plater will join Rizla Suzuki as a replacement rider for the injured James Haydon at the ninth round of the Championship at Oulton Park this weekend. The 2006 North West 200 winner who lives in Lincolnshire will join regular Rizla Suzuki racer Shane ‘Shakey’ Byrne at the 2.69-mile long Cheshire circuit. It is the Championship’s second and final visit to the picturesque Oulton Park venue this year. During the team’s first visit to the track in May Shakey scored two podiums and was just a whisker away from winning a race despite suffering from a severe stomach bug. James Haydon continues his road to recovery and will be at Oulton Park lending his support to both Byrne and Plater. Superbike racing starts at 1315 on Sunday July 23rd. Shane Byrne: “Last time we visited here I finished second and third despite suffering from the most horrendous gastro enteritis. I like the circuit; my Rizla Suzuki fits me like a glove; and I want to win and make up for earlier in the year. “I’m enjoying my racing and having fun at the same time. I’m relaxed and really happy after the win at Knockhill. Life is good in my world and the only thing that could improve it is a victory at Oulton Park so that’s what I’m going for.” Steve Plater: “The chance to race the Rizla Suzuki GSX-R1000 at Oulton Park this weekend is a dream come true. I have been down to the team HQ and been measured up for the bike and I am champing at the bit to get racing. “I’ve won at Oulton Park twice before in 2002 and 2003 and know the Rizla Suzuki is a very quick bike round the circuit. It’s a huge opportunity for me to show what I can do on a competitive bike. My collarbone is completely healed and I can’t wait to get out in first practice on Friday.” * To hear Steve’s thoughts on joining Rizla Suzuki visit www.rizla-suzuki.co.uk and select Multimedia and then the audio option. Robert Wicks – Team Manager: “The euphoria of Shakey’s race win at Knockhill is still fresh in our minds but with back-to-back races for the team there is a great deal of preparation to get through before heading off to Oulton Park. “Steve is a welcome addition to the team and I know he is looking forward to the opportunity of riding the GSX-R1000. He’s a tremendously capable rider, very professional and brings a great sense of humour to the garage. We look forward to working with him at the weekend and putting him in the best possible position to achieve a good result for Rizla Suzuki.” More, from a press release issued by Hawk Kawasaki: Hawk Kawasaki Gearing Up For Oulton Park Round 9 – British Superbike Championship The two Hawk Kawasaki riders are heading for the picturesque track of Oulton Park, Cheshire this weekend (21st 23rd July), for round nine of the Bennetts British Superbike Championship. Craig Coxhell (23) and Peter Hickman (19) and looking forward to tackling the 2.7-mile circuit. Coxhell gained two strong results last weekend at Knockhill Circuit, Scotland and is looking to add a few more positive results to his tally. Last time at Oulton Park in May the young Australian was recovering from a serious injuries to both of his shoulders after a crash at Donington Park earlier in the season. Coxhell is looking at following on from his confident sixth place at Knockhill at the technical circuit at the weekend. Craig commented “I’m feeling very relaxed and happy after Knockhill and hope that I can better them at Oulton. The team is working really hard and now we are starting to get the results that we deserve. My injury at the start of the season really set me back and it has taken until now to get things back on track and feeling more confident.” Youngster rider in the British Superbike Series, Peter Hickman is keen to go back to Oulton Park saying “I’m glad we are going back to a circuit that we have been to before and that I know my way round a little better on a Superbike. I’m hoping that I can make progress there and get back in the points this weekend. The Hawk bikes handle pretty well round Oulton so I hope that will work in my favour. It’s an extremely tough series but I am very much enjoying this opportunity that I’ve been given.” Third Hawk rider Dean Thomas is still absent from racing due to injury. After sustaining a punctured lung and four broken ribs at Snetterton Circuit when he was hit by James Haydon at the bottom of the one of the fastest straights in the country. Speaking with Thomas he said “I’m slowly getting better but it is taking a lot longer than I first hoped or expected. I’m still in a lot of pain and continue to take a number of pills to try and help me sleep and get through the days. The ribs are giving me the most grief at the moment, however, I am still getting out of breath very quickly with the after effects of the punctured lung. I thought about riding at Oulton this weekend but it won’t be physically possible, I am now aiming for Croft which gives me another month to get myself fit again. I’m eager to get back out on a bike as it’s very frustrating sat at home watching it on the TV.”