STEVE PLATER PREPARES FOR RETURN TO BSB Fresh from his fantastic showing at the Isle of Man centenary TT races, Steve Plater returns to domestic action in round six of the 2007 Bennetts British Superbike championship at Mondello Park in Ireland on Sunday where he is planning to ride in both Superbike races plus the British Supersport event for AIM Yamaha. Plater, from Woodhall Spa near Lincoln became the fastest ever newcomer to lap the 37.73-mile mountain road course on the island in the history of the TT registering a fastest speed of 125.808mph on the final lap of the prestigious Senior TT on Friday of last week. Asked of his experiences at the TT the 34-year-old rider said: “I had prepared myself for my debut at the TT by riding the course in a car doing speeds of around 60-70mph. I spent a lot of time early in the mornings going over and over the course and learning the lines at different sections and had been over to the island on more than one occasion throughout the year doing the same thing. “Bearing in mind it’s a public road that’s the best I could achieve before official practise and if nothing else at least I began to learn my way around the course. “But it doesn’t prepare you for the difference in the road surface when riding a bike around at high speeds of up to 190mph. Although I covered a lot of ground in my time on the island I still have a lot to learn and would like to return next year. But it’s all down to my contractual situation next year and if the team I ride for wants me to do it.” Steve travelled directly to France from the Isle of Man where he took part in a two-day test with Team Kawasaki France in preparation for his World Endurance challenge. The Magny Cours circuit has just undergone a re-vamp and has been resurfaced so the team wanted to test the new track to see how it shaped up. “We had two good days of testing,” said Steve. “The new surface is fine and although it rained on the first morning that was a bonus as we were able to test our wet weather set up as well as the slick tyres later in the day. All in all everything went very smoothly and we were straight on the pace, bettering last year’s lap times from the off.” Steve had a quick turn around as he travelled directly to Mondello Park on Thursday to prepare for his return to the British Superbike campaign. “After getting off the ferry I had to drive through the night to get to the circuit which is in the Irish Republic. The team have also had a quick turn around and have had only a few days to prepare the bikes. We are still waiting on some new parts for the Superbike and so we are restricted a bit. We will wait and see what the weather throws at us before making a final decision but at the moment I am down to ride in both Superbike races and also the Supersport event at Mondello.” Weather permitting, racing gets underway on Friday with two free practise sessions in each class with a further free practise for Superbikes on Saturday followed by qualifying at 2.40pm. The Supersport has two qualifying sessions on Saturday at 11.40pm and 3.40pm. The Two 18-lap Superbike races are scheduled for 12.45pm and 3.45pm on Sunday with the Supersport race, also run over 18 laps due to get underway at 2.45pm