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HM Plant Honda rider and Eurosport-Yahoo! blogger Glen Richards congratulates temporary team-mate Steve Plater on his second place in the bikes version of Le Mans 24 Hours.

My temporary team-mate in British Superbikes Steve Plater finished second in the motorcycling version of Le Mans 24 Hours at the weekend.

I watched the race on Eurosport and followed the live timing too. Of course I competed at Le Mans in 2007, finishing ninth, so I know all about the race.

I felt sorry for Steve as it rained: it is difficult enough as it is but it would have been a very hard race to go around all night in the rain.

It must have been frustrating for him as they had the pace to win, but couldn't quite follow it through.

Throughout the season I will be keeping a close eye on World Superbikes, MotoGP and World Endurance, as usual. When I'm not racing I watch a lot of other series.

I've done a season of World Endurance so I know the teams and the riders quite well, like I do in WSB. And there is sometimes something to be learnt from watching them, although that applies more to WSB and MotoGP than endurance, obviously.

When you take part in the six and eight-hour races you go at full speed - there's no other way to do it - but the 24-hour contests are a bit different.

In the first session or two you take it a bit easier, maybe riding at 95 per cent, so there is something left in the tank for the following day. There is a danger of going too hard too early.

It is very hard work: competing over 24 hours is not very nice really. However, when you finish there is a real sense of achievemen. It is very, very satisfying.

It is a bit like the London Marathon, which incidentally is set to be held this weekend. It is a challenge which you have to do lots of preparation for and can look back on later with pride.

It is one thing to finish, but if you are competitive it is even more of an achievement.

I have no doubt that I will do some more endurance racing in my life; after all, at 35 I'm only a spring chicken compared with Steve! He's a whole five years older than I am so I have not written it off yet.

However, this year I am concentrating on winning the BSB Championship and so am keeping the distractions to a minimum.

As for my intended partner at Honda Josh Brookes, all I have heard is that with the new regulations the UK Immigration Department require a tier five visa, whereas he is only licensed for a tier two.

He is stuck in the middle and must be very annoyed sitting back there in Sydney unable to come over.

Fingers crossed he will be here next week and getting ready to race at Oulton Park.

Watch all this season's BSB action on your PC via the Eurosport Player - click on the link under the picture to subscribe. Or watch the action on British Eurosport 2, available in the UK on Sky channel 411 and Virgin Media channel 525

Glen Richards / Eurosport