Plater: Oulton BSB is business as usual

The British Supersport title is on the line but experience campaigner Steve Plater aims to go about business as usual this weekend at Oulton Park in the final round of the series.

He’s 11 points ahead of Raceways Yamaha rider Billy McConnell going in to the final round but told MCN: “It’s the same old approach for me this weekend. I’m going there to win.

“But I know it’s not going to be easy. It’s not only Billy who I’ve got to worry about. There are lots of good riders not in the title hunt who will be aiming to impress in this final round of the series.

“As far as Honda versus Yamaha I’d say it’s a pretty even match around Oulton. Maybe the Yamaha will have the advantage in a couple of places but the Honda is a good all-round package.

“The only thing that worries me is the weather. It’s okay if it’s dry or wet but it so often can be that horrible in between so you never know where you are.

“The first meting there this year it was like that. The front two rows wwere on inters, I was on dry tyres and cleared off. But then it started to drizzle so you couldn’t tell where it was wet or dry. I slowed and the guys on inters left me behind. I finished seventh.”

This year is the first for many that the final round of the series has been held at Oulton and not Brands. That doesn’t faze Plater.

“I don’t care it’s at Oulton. I prefer the place to Brands Indy circuit. I don’t mind where we’re racing, except that Oulton does seem a bit more affected by the weather!

“The only thing I’m a little surprised at is the way they’ve changed qualifying to one session only at Oulton – to suit the extra BSB race and the TV schedules I guess.

“It just means it only takes one little thing to go wrong in that one session and…..well I guess it’s the same for everyone.”

Plater has no inkling of Honda’s 2010 racing plans and prefers to wait until it’s all sorted before he gets told.

“I’ve heard nothing. But that’s not unusual in this team. They way it works is that Neil Tuxworth (team boss) gets everything in place and secures the budget – before he says anything. That way you know exactly where you stand.  So I didn’t listen to any of the rumours that are going around. I’ll wait to hear from Neil. 

“I’ve not even thought about what I want to do – whether it’s British, the roads, World Endurance. First thing is to get this weekend sorted and then maybe I’ll have time to think about the future.”