JG Speedfit Kawasaki’s Leon Haslam is the new MCE British Superbike series leader, after finishing on the podium not once, but twice, with a victory in race one and a closely fought second place in the final event at Oulton Park.
The ZX-10RR racer has a 22 point advantage in the standings, with Anvil Hire TAG Yamaha’s Josh Brookes in second overall, with Byrne a point behind in third. Haslam was only a tiny 0.054s off a double victory at the Cheshire track, but the solid points haul means he has the edge going into the penultimate round at Assen.
Last year Haslam did the double at the Dutch track and hopes he can replicate his solid form going into the last round at Brands. But even though he had a 100 per cent podium success rate at Oulton he is still a bit frustrated he didn’t bag maximum points today.
“I keep telling myself championship, championship, it wasn’t easy conditions in race one or two with the wet patches, frustrating we didn’t get that win but at the same time we will take it. We managed a double win at Assen last year but anything can happen and a lot of people can challenge for the podium but that’s what makes it exciting,” said Haslam, speaking at the track.
After race one Haslam said: “It was difficult I didn’t expect the win and I was kind of gifted it with Dan going out, with the first five laps I got a good start and pretty much everyone came past, Shakey, Josh, Hickman, I was kind of thinking the last thing I wanted to do was throw it away.
“I got into a good rhythm I managed to catch the guys who were my competition and I thought if I get though these then that will be enough and that point was only for third or fourth and then I got gifted the win in the end. It was an unexpected win and I didn’t know how hard to push but it didn’t matter where I finished as long as I was in front of the other championship guys.”
