HM Plant Honda's Leon Haslam made it three British Superbike wins in a row by doing the Superbike double at Cadwell Park this afternoon.
The Derbyshire rider added to his first 2008 win at Knockhill two weekends ago and managed to fend off Rizla Suzuki's Tom Sykes who finished runner-up for the second time today. Airwaves Ducati's Shane Byrne rounded off the podium in an exact replica of race one.
Haslam's team-mate Cal Crutchlow crashed on lap three when the engine case of his Fireblade touched the kerb going through Hall Bends and he lost the front end. He re-mounted to finish 13th. It means that Haslam has now overtaken Crutchlow in the championship standings, claiming third behind Byrne and Sykes.
Sykes proved once again he has his race starts all worked out by taking the lead once the reduced 15-lap race commenced. He was followed by Crutchlow, Haslam, Byrne and Michael Rutter on the NW200 Ducati.
Lap one wasn’t without incident with Gary Mason on the Quay Honda crashing out at high speed at Coppice, the first corner. Back at the front it was looking like Crutchlow had solved his race one chatter problem and was going to be a challenger for the win until lap three.
It was then déjà vu all over again between Sykes and Haslam with the Honda man taking the lead with the same move as in race one, but this time earlier on in the race. Behind the leading two Rutter and Camier were having a battle of their own with Camier moving up to fourth to hunt down his team mate.
Camier with his dazzling confidence made an inside manoeuvre on Shakey at Park, briefly taking the lead before Byrne revenged the position on the exit prior to increasing his pace to pull away to keep third.
As the race progress the two Ducatis brought down the gap to the two front runners making a slightly spread out leading group of four. However none of the gaps between each rider was small enough for any of them to improve on their position before the finish line.
Haslam did the first double for H M Plant Honda this season and moved five points ahead of his team mate to third in the championship standings. MSS Kawasaki was the second crash victim of the race whilst on the final lap with Stuart Easton obtaining 14th since his returning from his broken arm.
Lloyds British Jentin Yamaha rider Simon Andrews got another great result, ending in sixth, while Scott Smart on the Hawk Kawasaki continues to make huge imporvements, taking eighth.
Astushi Watanabe continued his successful weekend for Rizla Suzuki by finishing seventh, Guy Martin of Hydrex Animal Honda finished a positive 11th and Karl Harris fell slightly down the order to finish tenth overall, a strong ride for him whilst riding with his fresh and painful injury obtained in race one. His left glove was filling up with blood before the race started.
Yet another walking wounded rider John Laverty won the Daily Star Cup finishing 15th overall followed by Chris Burns, who takes his second podium of the day and Martin Jessopp of Riders Racing Honda taking third.
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