ALONG with team-mates Igor Jerman and Steve Martin, Steve Plater of Woodhall Spa rode to a fine second place for Yamaha Austria in the Eight Hour World Endurance round at Oschersleben in Germany on Saturday.
It was the team's first podium finish of the current campaign and moved them into second place in the championship.
Starting from third place, Plater began the race for YART and entered into a good battle with Suzuki, Kawasaki and Yamaha Germany d
uring the opening laps.
He and Jorg Teuchart (Yamaha Germany) pulled away from the pursuing pack but the latter pitted early to refuel leaving Plater to take up the lead during the first hour.
At the changeover YART had dropped down to second but continued to chase the leader and again took the lead only to lose it again at the next pit stop.
Current champions SERT took the lead but then went on to crash.
Plater rode the last 70 minutes, holding a good advantage over the SERT team who had managed to remount, and, with an hour to go it was still anyone's race.
Steve pushed as hard as possible but, after one of the most closely fought contests in recent years, eventually had to settle for the runner up spot.
The points accrued at Oschersleben were sufficient to move the YART team up into second place in the World Endurance Championship with two rounds left to race.
The next round will take place in France at the Magny-Cours circuit for the Bol d'Or 24-hour race on September 13/14
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