Leon Haslam fired a high speed warning to his rivals in the chase for the Bennetts British Superbike Championship as he shattered the Cadwell Park lap record in free practice ahead of the Holiday Monday eleventh round. The Airwaves Ducati rider set the pace throughout the opening sessions, with his best coming late on in the afternoon as he lapped the 2.18 mile Lincolnshire circuit at 89.84 mph, some three quarters of a second inside the record, but, his time of 1m 27.353secs was only 0.003 secs up on Karl Harris.
The two riders were continuing the duel that began last time out at the Croft circuit in North Yorkshire where Haslam snatched an amazing last lap victory from the HM Plant Honda rider.
“I needed that victory, my first of the season, and now I am confident that I can build on it – my bike is running well here. We tested strongly at this very technical circuit back in June, and now I am feeling good for the races,” said the 22 year old Derbyshire rider who is currently three points down on Ryuichi Kiyonari in the title stakes.
The 23 year old, aboard the locally based Honda, is in his third term in the series and is determined that he will become the first Japanese rider to take the crown. He rode strongly and though back in fourth place on the leaderboard, he was running only 0.288secs down on Haslam..
“It is very important that we win here, but it is a very challenging track. I am happy with the results in practice at the moment, but now must win races and score strongly,” said Kiyonari who last year, despite winning a dozen races had to be content with the runner-up spot in the standings.
Currently, his best lap time of1m 27.641secs is a split second down on Jonathan Rea, while the rider who beat him to the crown Gregorio Lavilla is sixth best, marginally slower than Rizla Suzuki’s former champion Shane Byrne.
The Spanish rider, aboard the second Airwaves Ducati, took time working on the setting of his bike, but, he is feeling good, having ridden out of a lean spell of three non-finishes in six races – his pair of thirds last time out leave him third in the rankings, 15 points down on Haslam.
Lavilla however is comfortable here and aiming to build on his determined rides in the corresponding round last year which put him on course for the crown: “I got a pair of second places last year and it holds some good memories as I took the championship lead too.
“I was pleased with how I rode at Croft and here, I know that my bike is capable of performing well and lapping fast. I am confident for the weekend.”
Glen Richards, riding Hydrex Honda, was just ahead of Stobart Honda’s Michael Laverty, while the local hero, Steve Plater, continuing to deputise for the injured James Haydon on the Rizla Suzuki, completed the top ten, ahead of Michael Rutter, Bill McConnell and Dean Thomas.
Chris Martin, fourteenth overall, looks set to increase his lead in the chase for the British Superbike Cup, running some three seconds up on Michael Howarth, Howie Mainwaring and Marty Nutt.
The grid deciding session, with points also at stake in the Audi Performance Award, is on Sunday afternoon, between 14.45 and 15.35, with the two races on Monday afternoon at 13.17 and 16.06.
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