JG Speedfit Kawasaki’s Leon Haslam managed not to get too fazed by the changeable weather conditions during the final MCE British Superbike qualifying session at Oulton Park, as he was able to set his fastest time on his last lap, when drizzle was falling out on track.
Haslam lapped a 1’34.200 going 0.4s under lap record pace to go second on the starting grid for the first of two BSB races tomorrow. He was pipped to the post by pole-setter, Be Wiser Ducati’s Shane Byrne who went 0.184s faster in Q3 at the Cheshire track.
But the Smalley rider was left feeling ‘frustrated’ after a ‘mistake’ cost him a possible pole position on his first lap, before the rain started to really descend. The front row is always the aim for Haslam, and he achieved that today, but he is not completely satisfied as he wanted to get a fast lap in before the weather changed for the worse.
“I made a mistake on lap one and then when the drizzle came down, I kind of felt a bit shit about it, but we did manage to go a bit quicker with the drizzle at the end and I am pretty happy with the bike,” said Haslam at the track.
“The JG Speedfit team has done an awesome job all weekend and at the test, and I am feeling confident on the bike. It was a disappointing Q3, but P2 I am happy as front row is always the aim.
“We knew the rain was coming this afternoon and we thought we would just get the session in, and think everyone got the rain on the first flying lap - some got a good lap and others didn’t. For me it was frustrating but it was the same for everyone and it was my mistake but we will see what tomorrow means.”
