Sponsorship Success
HM Plant has continued its support of motorsport in recent years, with the main focus on motorcycle racing. This has concentrated on an impressive portfolio of sponsorship activities in the British and world championships.
The official UK distributor of Hitachi Construction Machinery is a proud personal sponsor of British racers Neil Hodgson and James Toseland. HM Plant logos have been seen on the riders' leathers and helmets at circuits throughout the world in the AMA, MotoGP and the Superbike World Championship.
In addition to this, HM Plant has been the title sponsor of the HM Plant Honda Racing British Superbike Championship team since 2004. Other racing disciplines, such as the Honda Formula 4-Stroke Off-shore Powerboat Championship, the CAS Honda motocross team and other off-road classes also benefited from HM Plant's generosity through the Honda Racing title sponsorship package.
Most - if not all - of these partnerships have come to fruition in terms of success at the highest level.
On the world stage
- 2003 – Neil Hodgson
won the Superbike World Championship - 2004 – James Toseland
won the Superbike World Championship - 2004 – Neil Hodgson
finished 17th in MotoGP - 2005 – James Toseland
finished 4th in the World Superbike Championship - 2005 – Neil Hodgson
finished 3rd in the AMA - 2006 – James Toseland
finished 2nd in the World Superbike Championship - 2006 – Neil Hodgson
finished 5th in the AMA
In the British Superbike Championship
2004
Michael Rutter came second overall, won six Superbike races, scored 12 other podium finishes, eight pole positions andqualified on the front row of the grid for every race onthe HM Plant Honda Racing CBR1000RR Fireblade.
His team-mate Ryuichi Kiyonari impressed in his debut season with a double win, three other podiums, one pole position, one other front row start and the coveted 2004 Rookie of the Year title. He finished in sixth place overall.
2005
With one year’s experience in the series, Ryuichi Kiyonari stormed to second place overall in the championship. The Japanese rider narrowly missed out on securing the title despite claiming 12 race wins and three pole positions in the series.
Team-mate Michael Rutter finished just behind Kiyonari in third position overall, with three race wins and three pole positions on record.
2006
Ryuichi Kiyonari claimed the title for HM Plant Honda Racing after securing 11 race wins and five other podiums aboard the HM Plant Honda Racing CBR1000RR Fireblade.
Team-mate Karl Harris finished fifth overall in the championship. The former Supersport Champion enjoyed six podium finishes.
British Supersport Championship
2004
Karl Harris won his second consecutive title, claimed six race wins, four other podiums, five pole positions and three other front row starts on his HM Plant Honda Racing CBR600RR.
British Motocross Championship
2004
Josh Coppins claimed the MX1 title with one round of the series still remaining and scored six double victories in eight rounds. He also won one GP.
2005
Josh Coppins successfully defended his British MX1 title, despite missing the opening round of the championship due to injury. Coppins won ten races and secured two other podium finishes to seal victory. The Kiwi also finished second overall in the World Motocross Championship after winning four races and finishing in the top three on 12 other occasions.
2006
Ken de Dycker won his first British MX1 Championship and the seventh consecutive title for HM Plant-backed CAS Honda. Five race wins and ten other podium finishes enabled de Dycker to claim victory. Team-mate Josh Coppins finished fifth overall following an injury-plagued season.
British ATV Championship
2005
Paul Winrow claimed victory in the British ATV Championship.
2006
Paul Winrow successfully defended his British title.
Road racing
2004
Michael Rutter won both Superbike races at the 2004 International North West 200 for the HM Plant Honda Racing team.
2005
Rutter also claimed victory at the 2005 International North West 200 aboard the factory-supported HM Plant Honda Racing CBR1000RR Fireblade.
2006
Steve Plater secured double victory at the International North West 200 aboard the HM Plant Honda Racing CBR1000RR Fireblade.
HM Plant Honda Racing's John McGuinness scored an impressive hat-trick of victories, lap records and race times at the 2006 Isle of Man TT. The road racing veteran clinched victory in the Superbike, Senior and Junior TTs and set the outright lap record at 129.45mph.
