STEVE PLATER made a solid return to racing by finishing 12th in the British Superstock 1000 race at Cadwell Park on Monday.

Little over three months after suffering a broken neck and broken arm in a practice crash ahead of the North West 200, the Woodhall Spa hero was back in action at his local track in front of around 30,000 bike fans.

Returning at one of the most physically demanding circuits on the calendar was always going to be a tall order for Plater.

However, the HM Plant Honda ace improved his pace during the weekend to qualify 11th.

Plater lost a place off the start, dropping to 12th, where he stayed for the remainder of the 14-lap race.

"That's got a big weight off my shoulders," he confessed after the race.

"There was no pressure, the HM Plant Honda team said go out there and enjoy it.

"The big relief is to finish the race, get one under my belt, and I am very happy to have done that, even with 12th place.

"There was a group just in front of me in the race and in places I was faster than them, but in other more physical places like the Gooseneck, the Chicane and Hall Bends where I was a bit tired, they were faster than me. So, I settled for what I had and I'm happy."

The county racing legend will expect to be more competitive when the championship resumes at Croft in North Yorkshire on September 12.

Meanwhile, fellow British Superstock 1000 rider Lee Jackson admitted he was glad to see the back of Cadwell for 2010.

The Buildbase Kawasaki rider crashed out of the season's earlier meeting at the Wolds track and finished an agonising 16th on Monday, just one place out of the points.

"We struggled all weekend with the front end," explained the Lincoln rider.

"We had some new forks. They were better over the bumps, but they kept bottoming out, which is something we're going to have to look at.

"To be honest, I haven't enjoyed Cadwell this year."