Haslam enjoys daily double to go third in title stakes BENNETTS BRITISH SUPERBIKE CHAMPIONSHIP Round nine Holiday Monday 25 August Cadwell Park Leon Haslam maintained his record of winning a race every year at Cadwell Park with a dominant performance in the ninth round of the Bennetts British Superbike Championship as he won both races to move into third place in the title chase. The HM Plant Honda rider had to work hard for his success, with pole starting Rizla Suzuki rider Tom Sykes making the early running in each of the races before being taken by the hard charging Haslam at Park corner after half a dozen laps. “The weekend didn’t start great here for me,” reflected Haslam. “I had a heavy crash in practice then we had a wet session and qualifying didn’t go according to plan and I was fourth and a second row start.” The Derbyshire rider overcame that with a rapid get-away to pile on the pressure, and, on his Louth based team’s local circuit, Haslam had everything going his way when it mattered most in the races. “My bike worked like a dream and to get the first double win of the year for the team is great and I think it might be the first time that they have taken the double here at their local circuit. “We had a bit of bad luck at the start of this year and I did lack a bit of confidence but the team have worked hard and the bike has increased ten-fold now and we are back to winning ways,” enthused a confident Haslam. Sykes took some consolation for finishing second in each of the races as he moved into second place in the rankings at the expense of Cal Crutchlow who slipped into fourth overall, behind Haslam after a difficult day at the races. In the opener, the Coventry rider complained of a front wheel vibration, which slowed him into fifth place but after a determined start to the delayed second race, he tumbled at Hall Bend, but managed to wrestle his Honda back on track and in a damage limitation rider salvage three points with a distant thirteenth place. Shane Byrne maintained his 110 points advantage, as he heads towards taking the title for a second time, with a pair of third placings. “We have struggled a bit here but if struggling is two third places then that’s not bad at all. We are still leading the championship and that’s all that matters,” said the Airwaves Ducati rider. His team-mate Leon Camier was fourth in each of the races, while Michael Rutter, sixth adrift of Crutchlow in the opener, was fifth next time out on the North West 200 Ducati. John Laverty defied the pain of broken ribs and ligament damage in his knee and neck to race his Buildbase NW200 Ducati into second and first placings to enhance his lead in the Daily Star Cup. Gary Mason had won the opener on the Quay Garage Honda but crashed spectacularly out of the second. Results round nine, Bennetts British Superbike Championship Race one 18 laps 1. Leon Haslam (HM Plant Honda) 26m 42.195secs 2. Tom Sykes (Rizla Suzuki) +0.551s 3. Shane Byrne (Airwaves Ducati) +8.819s 4. Leon Camier (Airwaves Ducati) +11.981s 5. Cal Crutchlow (HM Plant Honda) +18.970s 6. Michael Rutter (North West 200 Ducati) +19.482s 7. Simon Andrews (Lloyds British Yamaha) +22.094s 8. Michael Laverty (Relentless Suzuki by TAS) +26.571s 9. Atsushi Watanabe (Rizla Suzuki) +33.816s 10. Gary Mason (Quay Garage Honda) +34.606s Race two 15 laps 1. Leon Haslam (HM Plant Honda) 22m 11.771secs 2. Tom Sykes (Rizla Suzuki) +0.541s 3. Shane Byrne (Airwaves Ducati) +0.910s 4. Leon Camier (Airwaves Ducati) +1.269s 5. Michael Rutter (North West 200 Ducati) +16.556s 6. Simon Andrews (Lloyds British Yamaha) +23.458s 7. Atsushi Watanabe (Rizla Suzuki) +27.178s 8. Scott Smart (Hawk Kawasaki) +27.375s 9. Michael Laverty (Relentless Suzuki by TAS) +28.549S 10. Karl Harris (Rob Mac Racing Yamaha) +37.426s Latest championship standings: 1. Shane Byrne (Airwaves Ducati) 364 2. Tom Sykes (Rizla Suzuki) 254 3. Leon Haslam (HM Plant Honda) 249 4. Cal Crutchlow (HM Plant Honda) 236 5. Leon Camier (Airwaves Ducati) 205 More, from a press release issued by Team Suzuki News Service: Rizla Suzuki’s Tom Sykes took two well-earned second places in today’s ninth round of the Bennetts British Superbike Championship at Cadwell Park in Lincolnshire to move up to second overall in the title chase while his team mate Atsushi Watanabe took a ninth and followed it with a season-best seventh. Sykes led for two-thirds of the opening race and posted the fastest lap before being out-braked at the end of the straight on lap 10 as he took a tear-off from his visor. He remained in contention for the win right until the end but was just beaten to the chequered flag at the 2.18-mile picturesque track by Honda’s Leon Haslam. Watanabe started from eighth on the grid and impressed to record ninth in warm sunshine. In the second shortened race, Sykes again led from the front, completing seven laps before being passed by Haslam. The pair fought to the end but no opportunity to pass meant he had to settle for second and move up from third to second in the Championship standings. Watanabe got a stronger start and battled through to take seventh place, his best result of the season. Sykes and Rizla Suzuki are back in action again on September 7th at the 11th round of the World Superbike Championship at Donington Park in Leicestershire as a wild-card entry. After that he will be joined by Watanabe at the 10th round of the British Superbike Championship at Croft on Sunday, September 14th. Tom Sykes: “In the first race I was passed and then lost a few tenths when the front wheel slid at the hairpin. There weren’t enough laps left to catch it back again. In the second race Leon got past me cleanly and then we had a hard fight right to the end but it is very tight and narrow around Cadwell Park and I didn’t want to risk a dangerous overtake and ended up second again. “It’s a good double rostrum for Rizla Suzuki, although I would have liked to have won a race to say thank you to the team for all its efforts. Second in the title race is what we want and from here on in I’ll be getting my finger out to bring home more silverware. We all want more race wins.” Atsushi Watanabe: “In race two I enjoyed a fight with Karl Harris and Michael Laverty. My Rizla Suzuki is performing very well and the engine braking and throttle response gives me much confidence. Passing Michael was difficult as his Suzuki has similar speed but I really wanted a good result. “Cadwell Park is track I like, although the Mountain is still scary. I feel that my Rizla Suzuki is better than ever and I am now looking forward to the rest of the season. I cannot wait for Croft.” Jack Valentine – Rizla Suzuki Team Manager: “A pair of second places is a good result for Tom and the Rizla Suzuki squad – well done to them all. We harboured hopes for wins but Cadwell Park is a tough place to make overtakes – but we have all enjoyed fighting at the front for the top honours. “Atsu has proved a point this round by conquering the hardest circuit on the BSB calendar and taking his best result so far and quite a few good scalps in the process. He has found confidence in his Rizla Suzuki and is riding like a different man compared to earlier in the year, he is showing his talent and we like what we see. “It’s off to World Championship duty for Tom and Rizla Suzuki in a fortnight and we want to be challenging for the podium if possible. The GSX-R1000 is right on the money and so is Tom – the fans really helped us at Brands earlier in the month and I hope they’ll come and show their support again at Donington.” Race One Results: 1: Leon Haslam (Honda) 26:42.195 2: Tom Sykes (Rizla Suzuki) +0.551 3: Shane Byrne (Ducati) +8.819 4: Leon Camier (Ducati) +11.981 5: Cal Crutchlow (Honda) +18.970 6: Michael Rutter (Ducati) +19.482 7: Simon Andrews (Yamaha) +22.094 8: Michael Laverty (Suzuki) +26.571 9: Atsushi Watanabe (Rizla Suzuki) +33.816 10: Gary Mason (Honda) +34.606 Race Two Results: 1: Haslam 22:11.771 2: Tom Sykes (Rizla Suzuki) +0.541 3: Byrne +0.910 4: Camier +1.269 5: Rutter +16.556 6: Andrews +23.458 7: Atsushi Watanabe (Rizla Suzuki) +27.178 8: S Smart (Kawasaki) +27.375 9: Laverty +28.549 10: Karl Harris (Yamaha) +37.426 Championship Positions (after nine of 12 rounds): 1: Byrne 364 2: Tom Sykes (Rizla Suzuki) 254 3: Haslam 249 4: Crutchlow 236 5: Camier 205 6: Rutter 195 7: Ellison 177 8: Andrews 127 9: Laverty 125 10: Tristan Palmer (Honda) 84 15: Atsushi Watanabe (Rizla Suzuki) 50 More, from a press release issued by GSE Racing/Airwaves Ducati: TWO PODIUMS FOR AIRWAVES DUCATI The Airwaves Ducati team achieved another two podium finishes at Cadwell Park today. Shane Byrne finished 3rd and Leon Camier 4th in both British Superbike races. From the front and second rows of the grid, Shane and Leon dropped to 5th and 7th at the start of race one. As the leading pair pulled away, both Airwaves Ducati riders quickly became involved in a four way battle for 3rd. After successfully making his way up to 4th, Shane worked hard to overtake the Honda of Cal Crutchlow on lap 11 with Leon doing the same just 2 laps later to eventually finish 3rd and 4th respectively. In a reduced distance second race Shane and Leon each lost a place off the start but this was quickly made up again after a rider fell in front of them. At the start of lap 6 Leon pulled out from the slipstream of Michael Rutter to take 4th and quickly caught his Airwaves Ducati teammate. On lap 10 Leon passed Shane for 3rd only to be pushed back down to 4th one corner later. Although able to catch the two frontrunners, neither Shane nor Leon could improve on another 3rd and 4th place finish. Leon was pleased with his results saying, “To be back in amongst the front runners feels great and I am really happy. I was hoping to get onto the podium, especially in the second race, but the fact that I’m riding better and the Airwaves Ducati 1098R set-up has improved, is a result in itself. I managed to knock four tenths of a second off my time and actually posted the fastest time in the final sector which includes the mountain! So I’m feeling confident now heading to Croft.” Following race two Shane commented, “I really like Cadwell Park and I thought it would be a good circuit for us on the Airwaves Ducati but it’s actually been a tough weekend. We’ve had to work so much harder and make a lot of changes from session to session but all credit to the Airwaves Ducati team for helping me get two podiums today. I really want to get back on that top step and I think that had the second race been the original 18 laps I could have won. Nevertheless I’m looking forward to Croft and hopefully taking the momentum and the pace from race two with us.” Race One Results: 1. Leon Haslam HM Plant Honda 2. Tom Sykes Rizla Suzuki 3. Shane Byrne Airwaves Ducati 4. Leon Camier Airwaves Ducati Race Two Results: 1. Leon Haslam HM Plant Honda 2. Tom Sykes Rizla Suzuki 3. Shane Byrne Airwaves Ducati 4. Leon Camier Airwaves Ducati