JG Speedfit Kawasaki’s Leon Haslam will start the opening MCE British Superbike race at the Brands Hatch Indy circuit from the front row, after setting the third fastest time during qualifying.
But the Smalley native had to ride through some issues with the ZX10-RR during the afternoon session, after the team made a change to the front of the bike after the final free practice session and Haslam experienced a vibration, particularly when braking.
After Q1 and Q2 his team made a modification, and it appeared to work as Haslam was able to piece together a strong sub 45 lap, of a 44.931, and was only two tenths off the fastest time of pole-setter, James Ellison.
Haslam did his best lap on the SC2 front and SCO rear Pirelli tyres, but admitted that it will be down to track temperature to see what tyres he might use tomorrow. The former World Superbike rider won at the track last year, and is feeling ‘over the moon’ with the front row start, which he will share with his team-mate, Luke Mossey.
“We had a few issues in qualifying but we managed to pull off a decent lap together, and I am over the moon to be on the front row,” said Haslam, speaking at the track.
“We made some modification to the front of the bike after FP3 and we had a lot of vibration on the out lap, and initially I thought it was flat front tyre every time I braked it would set the bike into a wobble.
“A basically got through Q1 and Q2 and the boys found a small modification that helped the matter, but basically all the way through Q3 I was still getting it but only into Druids in the very last part of the brakes, but the problem stopped me from over braking.
“It was a small issue but think the boys have figured out what it is now so we are looking pretty good for tomorrow. Last year we ran the zero and race one me and James had a mega battle for a one-two.
“In race two the temperatures changed and we struggled a bit with tyre life and grip. For me it is about the tyre track temperature. I have done a lot of my work on the SC1 this weekend again, and we will wait and see and it is all about tyre track temperature.”
