After weeks of speculation Steve Plater is pleased to announce that he is to ride for AIM Yamaha and will contest the British Superbike championship on a new 2007 R1. Richard Cooper who will race an R6 Yamaha in the British Supersport series will join him in the team. Steve said: “I am delighted to be riding for the team that made it possible for me to win the 40th Macau Grand Prix on their R1 Yamaha.” Steve will also be contesting the North West 200 for the team before making his debut at the Isle of Man TT races in June. Last year the Woodhall Spa rider tasted the victor’s champagne by winning both races at the North West 200 and is hoping to repeat that again in 2007 for AIM Yamaha. The TT will be a completely new experience for the 34-year-old Lincolnshire rider who has never ridden the 37.73-mile mountain road circuit on a race bike. “I have been over to the Isle of Man on numerous occasions and ridden a road bike around the course but never under race conditions so it will be interesting to see how I go when there is no traffic coming the other way,” he said. “I am looking forward to the challenge and will do my best for AIM Racing. It has not yet been confirmed which TT classes I am to contest but it is likely I will be riding in the Superbike and Superstock races with the possibility of the Supersport race if all goes well.” Team AIM principal Alistair Flanagan said: “I am delighted to welcome Steve Plater on board. He rode for me at the Sunflower meeting in Ireland last year and then won the Macau Grand Prix for AIM Yamaha in November so I am more than happy that he has agreed to join the team and ride in both the British Superbike championship and the major road races this year.” It will be a busy year for Steve as he has also confirmed his intention to compete in the World Endurance championship for Team Kawasaki France with whom he rode to third place in the 24-hour Bol D’Or race at Magny Cours in France last September. Steve will be riding a Kawasaki ZX10 with two teammates to be decided from Gwen Giabbani (F), Ivan Silva (E) and Frédéric Moreira (F). The championship will be run over six rounds at major circuits throughout the world – April 21/22, Le Mans; May 5, Albacete; July 29, Suzuka; August 11/12, Oschersleben; September 15/16, Bol D’Or; November 10, Qatar. The 2007 British Superbike calendar: 9 April, Brands Hatch; 15 April, Thruxton; 29 April, Silverstone; 7 May, Oulton Park; 20 May, Snetterton; 17 June, Mondello Park; 1 July, Knockhill; 15 July, Oulton Park; 22 July, Mallory Park; 12 August, Croft; 27 August, Cadwell Park; 23 September, Donington Park; 14 October, Brands Hatch. The Isle of Man TT commences on May 26 with a week of practise followed by racing from June 2 June 8. The North West 200 is on Saturday, May 12 preceded by practise on Tuesday, May 8 and Thursday, May 10.