STEVE PLATER

DoB 22 / 08 / 1970

Home Town  Woodhall Spa Lincs.

 

How long have you been racing Steve?

I started in 94 and this is my 7th season.

 

What was your first bike ?

It was a BSA Bantam field bike although my first ever road bike was a GS1000 Suzuki, which I swopped for my Orion Ghia Injection at the age of 20.  I had never been on a road type bike until then! 

Where and when was your first road race and where did you finish? 

My first meeting was at Cadwell Park on March 13th on a CBR 600 and I won!! 

What was it like becoming a pro rider?

Well it was quite a culture shock as I was a bricklayer until then.  I went from racing my own bikes where and when I wanted to racing other peoples bikes where and when I was told!  The thing is the way the Championships are structured these days, you need big budgets to win,and therefore you need big sponsors.  Being a pro racer means you need to have 3 heads. One a good marketing head to sell yourself and the team,two,a good media head to make sure that you say the right things to the right people at the right time and  thirdly a good race head!!

Does the pressure of all this affect you? 

Well the race days go past so very quickly, after morning warm up its a quick de breif with the mechanics,shower,then meet some sponsors,then autographs and interviews. Once race one has finished its the same again,until finally race two is over then I can relax and switch off.  I do enjoy it although sometimes politics can be frustrating. 

Alot of racers have pre race rituals or superstitions. Do you have any Steve? 

No. I dont believe in a that rubbish. 

In 1998 you won the very prestigious NW200 on your 600.  What did that win mean to you both personally and career wise?

Personally it was AWESOME!! That's the only word for it.  Career wise it didnt make any difference really.

So how did you get your pro contract with Kawasaki?

 

I was racing at the BOL D'OR at the Paul Ricard circuit in France 1999, we finished 3rd overall despite one of my team mates being taken out  at one stage.  I became the fastest ever rider around that circuit during the race and Kawasaki France had noticed. This led to my ride this year.

 

Do you know who you will be riding for next year,and do you have any other meetings planned outside your regular championships?

 

Not 100% sure until next Wednesday. Although its 90% BSB with 5 rounds of the WSB. These should be any English ones ,Assen, Hockenheim and Valencia. I would like to do the NW200 as this is one of my favourite all time circuits.

 

Ok Steve now for the crunch one. If the money was right would you do the TT?

 

No. Although I would like to do it one day it would need to be as a privateer.  I wouldnt like to race there under pressure.

 

Finally Steve,What is your main goal/ambition as a motorcyle racer?

 

To be fast!!! In all fairness though I would like to be BSB Champion and then World Super Sport Champion.

 

Well good luck with that Steve and all the best for next season.

 

(Steve has since announced nextyears plans)