Photo Gallery: British Superbikes - R9, Cadwell Park #1

Description

HM Plant Honda's Leon Haslam continued his tradition of winning a BSB race at Cadwell Park again this season by stealing the advantage from Tom Sykes on the Rizla Suzuki.

Haslam said: "There was a lot of pressure coming in to this weekend and this really is one of my favourite tracks. Having won here every year I knew I had to do it again here today so I am pleased that I got it out of the way after the first race! At the start of the race I was behind Tom comfortably and I was trying to match him around the circuit and look at where he might be struggling. I didn't push too hard when I was in the lead and it wasn't until afterwards I found out that he had made a mistake but he did close in on that last lap so I got my head down and got the win so I am happy with that."

It was Sykes that got the flier off the line on the Rizla Suzuki with the HM Plant Honda duo of Haslam and Cal Crutchlow tucked in behind as the pack streamed through Coppice for the first time.

On lap four it was the end of another race for Karl Harris when he fell at the bottom of the Mountain when he lost the front end of the Rob Mac Racing Yamaha.

Sykes then held the lead, with Haslam shadowing his every move and it was only a matter of time before the HM Plant Honda rider decided to attempt his pass. Sykes was not able to defend as the 'Pocket Rocket' dived down the inside at Park.

Haslam was able to edge out an advantage as Sykes went hard into Barn, with a visible gap between the pair as they reached Coppice. However Sykes was not going to give up without a fight though and by the penultimate lap he had closed back in on him but there was just not enough time for Sykes to make a move to regain the lead.

Meanwhile the battle was on for third, with Crutchlow dropping down the pack with a chatter problem. It was then a Ducati shootout with Michael Rutter on the North West 200 Ducati liveried machine leading at the start, but Byrne was on target to get back on the podium and past him at Park on lap ten.

Byrne said: "I have been standing on the bottom steps of the podium a bit too much recently. All credit to the Airwaves Ducati team though as they have been working really hard this weekend. I didn't get a good start and the guys at the front just got away. I hope that in the next one we can go even better."

The second Airwaves Ducati of Leon Camier then made his move up to fourth past Crutchlow at Park on lap 13 and was attempting to close and pass team-mate 'Shakey' but it wasn't to be and he had to settle for fourth.

MSS Discovery Kawasaki's Stuart Easton was forced to retire on lap four on his first race appearance since his Snetterton practice crash.

Related Galleries
» Cadwell Park #4
» Cadwell Park #3
» Cadwell Park #2
» Cadwell Park #1

Related Content
» BSB, the latest!