BSB - Richards worried ahead of return

Eurosport - Wed, 23 Sep 17:18:00 2009

HM Plant Honda rider and Eurosport-Yahoo! blogger Glen Richards is cautious as he prepares to return to the British Superbike Championship at Silverstone after the most serious injury of his career.

2009 BSB Brands Hatch Indy Glen Richards - 0

I return at Silverstone this weekend following my broken leg - but I'm more worried than excited.

Coming back from this type of injury is never exciting. Don't get me wrong, I'm looking forward to riding my bike - but I've never had to come back from an injury this serious before.

I've broken arms and collarbones, but with a femur there is no easy way back.

I've not had chance to get the bike out, which is a shame, but I had a bit of a ride on a road bike around Silverstone and it felt pretty good.

However there is a big difference between a superbike and a road bike and I'm under no illusions as to how difficult it's going to be.

I'll get the boys to put the set-up back to how it was when I last raced. With the other riders there was a different geometry so it would be pointless to absorb any of their changes; plus it was feeling pretty good.

I didn't want to sit this one out as that would have meant coming back only for the final round of the season at Oulton Park, which would have been difficult for me.

The leg feels a lot better than it did when I had a ride around Croft and the best thing for it is to get back on the bike and give it a bit of exercise.

The doctors were telling me to slow down, that I was doing too much exercise trying to get back, but no matter how much training I've done I'm going to be tired riding the bike as I'm not at 100 per cent fitness.

The muscles are not fully developed you only get them back when you start riding again.

I set myself a goal, to ride at Croft, and there was no way I could have done that - I'd have been terrible - but that helped me get close to full fitness for Silverstone.

I'd love to get some good points this weekend. Two solid points finishes and then on to Oulton three weeks later where I can put in a further improved performance in those three races as I'll be a lot, lot stronger.

At Silverstone the last chicane could be a bit difficult because of the change in direction - that's what I've been struggling with most as you use your legs - but I'm not that concerned about any parts of the track apart from that.

I've had good results there in the past: I was on the podium in BSB back in the 750 days and fourth last year in British Supersport, but in doing so I won the title. I know the circuit well.

The news about the 'evolution' bikes for next year is great. It should make for closer racing but I think the rules, which put together stock-spec engines and superbike chassis, should be across the board.

Closer racing is what fans at the track and watching on TV want to see and those rules would close the gap on the bigger teams and make things a lot, lot cheaper. There would be more fighting for the lead and the bikes would be easier to ride.

There's not much in the engine difference: even to the trained eye the bikes look the same and they will still have 190 horsepower. At some of the tracks such as Mallory the difference in lap-times would be very small.

It'll be interesting to see how Alastair Seeley goes this weekend: he's riding an evo-spec bike and there'll be a few eyes on him. I think as National Superstock champion he'll go pretty well - but the question is how well?

If he does very well, people will question why we're spending all this money on the bikes.

Watch the BSB races at Silverstone LIVE at 1.30pm on Sunday on British Eurosport 2 (Sky 411 / Virgin Media 525); Also available on your PC via the Eurosport Player - click on the link under the picture to subscribe

Glen Richards / Eurosport

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  1. hi mate , hope you ride your bike better than the gym­ bike i saw you ride last week , good luck mate

    From dave.beno, on Thu 24 Sep 10:30PM
  2. Just wanted to wish you all the best for the weekend­ Glen. Your fans are looking forward to seeing you back­ in the saddle.

    From slaphead666, on Wed 23 Sep 8:13PM
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