Steve Plater rides YZF-R6 to win at TT 2008
4 Jun 2008:
After completing the Superstock TT race in eighth place on his own Nitro-sponsored Yamaha R1 on Monday morning, Steve Plater hopped aboard the AIM Yamaha YZF-R6 Supersport machine and rode a further four-lap race to secure a fine second place in the first of two Supersport races at the Isle of Man TT races.
But after a post race scrutineering examination the winner, New Zealand's Bruce Anstey, was disqualified after officials ruled that the Suzuki machine he rode did not comply with the Camshaft lift regulations. Therefore Lincolnshire's Steve Plater was declared the winner of the Junior TT in just his second year of competing at the Isle of Man TT races.
In glorious sunshine and perfect conditions the Junior TT run over 4 laps of the gruelling Isle of Man mountain course got underway at 1.15pm on Monday. Plater was quick to get away and was clocked through Glen Helen in seventh place to complete the first lap in the same position.
The AIM Yamaha pit crew did a slick job at the refuelling stop after the second lap and got Plater back out on the course in a very quick time, so much so that he immediately made up a further two places to slot into fifth place.
Lap three saw Plater make up ground to pass Ryan Farquhar on the leader board to take up fourth place and then chase after Keith Amor who was holding the final podium position of third.
By the time the pair reached Glen Helen on the final lap, Plater was ahead and in third place. With half a lap remaining, he was catching John McGuinness on time and a fast run from Ramsey to the Bungalow checkpoint saw him overhaul the multi TT winner to claim second place, which he held to the chequered flag.
Speaking at the post-race press conference Plater said: "I can't believe that. We had one or two issues in practice and I gave my team-mate Ian Hutchinson the best engine as he stood a good chance of actually winning the race. But I got my head down at the start and tried to be as smooth as possible.
"I had no idea I had finished second. I didn't have any boards around the circuit but one of the Phase One guys waved their board at me to say I was P5 a couple of times and I thought that would be a good result.
"But then when I went through on my last lap it said P3 and I thought I had better try to be as smooth as possible to hang onto that position. But then coming out of Ramsey and up May Hill, I made a mistake on the approach to the hairpin so I was a bit cross with myself.
"All I wanted to do was keep it smooth over the mountain and bring the Yamaha home in third so I couldn't believe it when they ushered me into the second place spot.
"Its just awesome, my head is in a big snowball right now and I can't believe what I have just done."
But after the post race scrutineering test Anstey was disqualified and Steve was pronounced the winner and is now even more amazed. "It was a surprise to find out I was second but now I have to take in the fact that I have actually won the race. It's all too much for me to take on board right now. Today has been such an emotional roller-coaster I just need a bit of peace and quiet to realise exactly what has happened here today."
The second of the Supersport Junior TT races is set for Wednesday (4th June) at 10.45am and the final race of the week for Plater will be the Dainese Senior TT event run over six laps starting at noon on Friday (6th).
