STEVE PLATER TO REMAIN AT AIM YAMAHA Lincolnshire racing star Steve Plater is to remain with AIM Yamaha to contest the British Superbike championship plus the North West 200 and the Isle of Man TT races in 2008. Plater who rode the AIM Yamaha to victory at the North West 200 in May and also secured his second victory in a row for the team at the Macau Grand Prix in November also made his debut at the Isle of Man TT races in 2007. After shedding his novice jacket during practise week he put in a dazzling performance on both the 1000cc and 600cc AIM Yamahas to claim the prestigious Best Newcomer Award and also the award for the fastest newcomer after posting a scorching final lap of 125.808mph in the Senior TT. Plater will also contest two World Endurance races in 2008, this time for the French GMT 94 Yamaha team. He will take part in both the Le Mans and Bol d’Or 24-hour races with the possibility of more if time permits. “I have made the move to GMT 94 for World Endurance so as to keep my racing all under the Yamaha banner,” said Steve. “It makes sense to keep the continuity of one manufacturer. “It is good that I am staying with AIM Yamaha as we spent a lot of time developing the bike throughout the 2007 BSB season and had made the breakthrough by the end of the season. We were regular top 10 finishers and the bike was improving on each outing so we are hopeful of bigger and better things for 2008. “I will be joined at AIM Yamaha by Ian Hutchinson who is to ride in the British Supersport championship and as a roads specialist he will be riding the 600 at all the road races in 2008.” Plater will take in some testing early next year in readiness for the new 12-round (24-race) BSB season, which kicks off at Brands Hatch on April 6.