British Superbike News

HM Plant Honda

The HM Plant Honda team have confirmed that they will only be using one bike per rider for the 2009 season as part of their cost-cutting programme.

It was reported last week that Neil Tuxworth, the team boss had denied the rumours that they would be cutting back on bikes and said,

“We have teams of mechanics here building the bikes right now”

However, according to today’s reports, Tuxworth has now said,

“I’ve been proposing one bike per rider for two or three years now in a bid to reduce costs but have always been shouted down.  But there’s a rule in place for GP125 to have one bike for each rider, Dorna are going to do the same for the 250/600 class at MotoGP and I feel it’s the way BSB should go.

We are going to have one bike each for Glen and Josh and the two spare bikes will be built into bikes for the roads to be used by John McGuinness and Steve Plater at the North West and TT.”

Tuxworth, also denied rumours that they are to lose the sponsorship they have with HM Plant for 2009, although it is the final year in a three year contract.

He added,

“Yes, HM Plant is having difficulties trading, but so is everyone in the current climate, including Honda.  We’ve already announced the changes we’re making to our team as a result of the reduced budgets.  There’s nothing more to add, other than to say that the team is flat-out preparing for the new season.”