BSB aces Karl Harris and Steve Plater chat with Jacqui Rose...

TALKING to Karl Harris from the Honda race team before Brands Hatch I asked him how the bike was performing for the task ahead.

Karl is riding a 1000cc, inline four-cylinder, 16-valve 200bhp-plus, fuel injection CBR Fireblade on Dunlop tyres;

He said: "We haven't done a lot of testing, but everything is going to plan. It's going to be a tough championship out there, but I'm hoping for the top three at least.

"There's nothing that needs changing, putting another 7lb on the bike and getting used to it in all fairness. Every time I go on the bike, the check timing is good and keeps going fantastic."

Asked about his favourite track in the championship he said: "It's probably Oulton Park or Brands Hatch. I like all the tracks really."

Karl is very serious about his contention for the championship this year, and with regard to the other carrot dangling in front of the riders this year I asked him about the Audi TT prize car.

"Yeah, that'll be nice, won't it? I'll have more cars than I know what to do with by the end of the year. I want to win the championship more than anything but if a TT comes with it - nice!"

How many times on the podium this season? "Oh, 26 hopefully," a cheeky grin comes across his face.

As to his allegiance with Honda, he says: "I've had a good relationship with them now for three or four years. I'd like to keep on with that."

Steve Plater was delighted to be back, this year on a Kawasaki ZX10R also on Dunlop tyres.

He told me: "I'm just happy to be fit again - kidney stone, broken foot, two broken wrists, dislocated shoulder, ribs and broken fingers - yeah, I'm just happy to be fit and raring to go again!"

No mistaking his joy at being back! I asked who he thought would be the main team to watch.

"Honda's going to be very strong without doubt. You've got two sides of teams, you've got Kiyo and Michael and you've got Karl, but I think otherwise it'll be even and good to watch. Hard to put your money on anyone, but not for my mum." The cheeky grin hardly leaves his face - he's a thoroughly laid back guy with a great attitude of taking life as it comes.

We discussed his long time out through injury, obviously a hard thing to deal with. "I just got bored with the time out. It's brought it back to me why I ride motorcycles. More than anything I got to be doing it again."

Steve was enthused with the extra coverage from Sky sports plus the addition of Channel 4 this season.

"It lifts the sport. It's weird because the more TV coverage and live coverage you get, the more people come to the meetings, which is fantastic. It's been growing and growing every season, getting bigger and bigger."

With 11 different tracks scheduled this year I asked Steve if he had a favourite.

"Cadwell Park. Tracks you don't particularly enjoy riding you get better results, those you love to bits you're absolutely rubbish when you get out there!

"Usually Oulton Park is the worst circuit for me because the more you pack it, which is my style, all through the laps for qualifying, I really, really struggle, and then get to the race and not a problem.

"Donnington Park, what a pain! You get to stop/start, the more you attack it, the slower you go. I've won there and had really good results. It's been good to me but I don't particularly enjoy it much."

I fleetingly chatted to Jon Kirkham, Steve's team- mate. Jon had just failed his motorcycle test, for what? Undue hesitancy!

Although Brands Hatch didn't produce any points for Steve, look out for the Sendo boys managed by Enzo DiClemente - girls it's enough to make you want to take up the sport yourself!