HM Plant Honda confirms Richards, Brookes.

HM Plant Honda have confirmed Glen Richards and Joshua Brookes will form their British Superbike rider line-up in 2009.

Replacing the world championship bound Leon Haslam and Cal Crutchlow, Richards and Brookes will form an all-Australian pairing for the 2006 and 2007 Superbike Champions.

An enticing line-up for Havier Beltran's team, both riders step up to Superbikes having spent the 2008 season competing in Supersports, Richards having won the British title, while Brookes currently lies third in the world standings.

For Richards, who also won the Superstock title in 2007, the move to Superbikes signals a return to the class he last participated in three years ago, although this will be his first effort on a factory supported bike.

"I'm looking forward to the opportunity and want to give it 110 per cent," said Richards, who was originally due to compete with the Embassy Racing team he won the BSS title with this year before they scaled back their operations.

"I'm well up for this challenge and I intend to give it my all! I've won two championships in a row with Superstock and now Supersport, so to make it three-in-a-row is the aim and to add a Superbike title would be awesome. I've never had a 'factory' ride as such in the BSB series, so I do feel I have unfinished business in the championship and something to prove.

"Modern Superbikes are smaller now, much like the 600-class machines I've been riding. I've also been used to big power before, I know the tracks and I'm used to the control tyre, so I'm looking forward to 2009!"

Having seemingly lost out on a chance to step up to the World Superbike Championship with Stiggy Motorsports next year, Brookes maintains his relationship with HM Plant Honda having made his debut for the team during the final Supersport round at Brands Hatch.

"I've joined HM Plant Honda as I wanted to find a team which is a happy place to work and one with a good family, but also professional, atmosphere," he said. "When I did the one-off ride at Brands, it showed me how well the team worked together and although I was only with them for a few days, it felt like I'd been with them all season. That was important.

"They've got a straight-forward and effective way of working and I like that. The HM Plant Honda CBR1000RR Fireblades have shown this season they can challenge for the title, so I think I can get the bike working well regardless of having not been to most of the tracks. The tracks themselves are quite similar to some of the ones I raced on in Australia, the only difference is the weather, but I'm good in the wet so that's no bother either!"

In addition to Richards and Brookes, HM Plant have also confirmed that Steve Brogan will return to defend the Superstock title he dominated this season, while Steve Plater will pilot their Supersport entry.

In all, team manager Beltran believes HM Plant have established themselves a very strong line-up for next year.

"We've got a very strong rider line-up for 2009 across each of the classes. We've seen Glen in the paddock for many years and he's been competitive on all sorts of machinery in all the classes he's ridden in and 2009 will provide him with the support and equipment his talents deserve, as we know he can do well.

"Josh impressed when he rode for us at the final round at Brands Hatch. He's experienced enough thanks to his time in international racing to get results and also young enough to learn with the team and learn the UK tracks.

With Brogie we've had a fantastic year in the Superstock 1000 class and with two new machines coming into the series for 2009, we wanted our best man out there to keep the superb Honda CBR1000RR Fireblade at the top.

"In the Supersport class, the updated 2009 Honda CBR600RR will still be a very competitive package and Steve has shown this year that he can ride a 600 as he scored wins in this season's championship, despite coming into it comparatively late on. We're looking forward to a strong and competitive 2009!"

Haslam and Crutchlow will make their final appearance for HM Plant Honda at the season ending World Superbike round in Portugal next month.