Pata Honda’s Leon Haslam did not have the best of starts to his World Superbike campaign at Magny-Cours today. The Brit was sixth fastest this morning but admits that, along with his team they made some changes, but not for the better.

Haslam ended the first qualifying session just outside the top ten, in twelfth and the Smalley resident - who has been blighted by injury for most of the year, would like some dry track time so he can improve on his race pace for Superpole tomorrow afternoon.

His crew did put in a new tyre, put it did not make the Englishman go any faster, and he wants to do better than his ‘average’ performance today and to make steps in the right direction. Now all of this has left the rider quite disappointed.

“It didn’t go so well this afternoon after we made a couple of steps but went the wrong way. We put a new tyre in but couldn’t go any faster, so I’m quite disappointed really. This morning wasn’t too bad and the start of qualifying was average, but we know what the wrong moves were and changing them will only improve the bike for tomorrow,” said Haslam.