Leon Haslam has a strong pedigree at his local Donington Park circuit and the Airwaves Ducati rider used that to the full in the blustery conditions during free practice for the penultimate round of the Bennetts British Superbike Championship.
The Derbyshire rider is the outside bet for the crown, starting the action here a massive 75 points down on series leader Ryuichi Kiyonari who is planning a double raceday celebration. The Japanese rider turns 25 years of age and he knows that a winning double would ensure retention of the crown.
Haslam is determined to spoil his plans, and he warmed to the challenge by topping the time-sheets with a best lap of the 2.5 mile Leicestershire Grand Prix circuit in 1m 32.118secs, 97.70mph, almost a second faster than the HM Plant Honda rider.
“I have to win these races to keep the pressure on Kiyonari and while there is a mathematical chance of getting ahead, then I will be going for it. I am looking for all out wins, but it will be tough as every race has been this year,” said Haslam.
Former champion Shane Byrne, and his young Stobart Vent Axia Motorsport Honda teamster Tom Sykes ran Haslam closest, with Karl Harris riding the Hydrex Honda fourth best.
Tommy Hill headed off Gregorio Lavilla by split second, with Cal Crutchlow the faster of the two Rizla Suzuki riders, running seventh, just ahead of Kiyonari whose best lap came in a time of 1m 33.114secs.
“Very windy, very scary,” said the Japanese rider with a smile. “This circuit I enjoy riding, having had my first victories in the championship here – now I want more wins.” He is relaxed and confident, having returned from a holiday back home with his family.
His chances of improving on his lap time were thwarted by a heavy rain shower late on in the second session in which he was just ahead of Michael Rutter and Chris Walker while Rea ran eleventh best.
The 20 year old Ballyclare rider is 41 points down on Kiyonari in the title chase, and he accepts that he is on the back-foot in terms of taking the crown: “The championship is still there, sort of for me. I know that it has not gone away from me, and I don’t wish anything on Kiyo but unless he has a bad day in either of the final rounds it looks his.”
James Haydon and Scott Smart on the Hawk Colchester Kawasakis closed in on him, with Tristan Palmer the fastest of the British Superbike Cup contenders, with a lap of 1m 34.771secs aboard the THR Honda, comfortably clear of Conor Cummins, Tom Tunstall and James Buckingham.
Top Ten Free Practice Times
- L Haslam - Airwaves Ducati - 1m 32.118 secs
- S Byrne - Stobart Honda - 1:32..216 secs
- T Sykes - Stobart Honda - 1:32.518 secs
- K Harris - Hydrex Honda - 1:32.593 secs
- T Hill - Virgin Yamah - 1:32.900 secs
- G Lavilla - Airwaves Ducati - 1:32.942 secs
- C Crutchlow - Rizla Suzuki - 1:33.064 secs
- R Kiyonari - HM Plant Honda - 1:33.114 secs
- M Rutter - Isilon Kawasaki - 1:33.128 secs
- C Walker - Rizla Suzuki - 1:33.200 secs
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