Round Eleven – Cadwell Park – Haslam Powers Ahead In Title Stakes

Leon Haslam took the lead in the chase for the Bennetts British Superbike Championship for the first time in a dramatic eleventh round in which he took a second place, and then a victory in front of record Bank Holiday crowd at Cadwell Park. The 22 year old Derbyshire rider had been struck down by an energy sapping stomach bug in the early hours of the morning, but he was determined that nothing was to slow his charge to the top.

He had powered his Airwaves Ducati to a fourth pole start of the campaign, recording the fastest ever lap of the 2.18 mile Lincolnshire circuit, but that counted for little as along with his rivals he was faced with a gamble on tyres as a thunderstorm left the track awash.

Karl Harris, running with full wets on his HM Plant Honda, set the early pace, before he was taken by his then series leading team-mate Ryuichi Kiyonari, while Haslam, and his teamster Gregorio Lavilla, ran in mid-pack, having opted for ‘cut-slick’ front tyres. As the track dried, their challenge intensified with Haslam moving second and closing in on Kiyonari.

With five laps to go, Haslam snatched the lead, but not for long, as Lavilla eased ahead at Park Corner and then pulled out a five second advantage as he chalked up his eighth victory of the campaign.

Haslam, however, was happy with second best. “It puts me ahead of Kiyo by a point – I felt OK, and might have pushed a bit harder in the closing stages to try and catch Greg but in the conditions though it best to settle for good points.”

Kiyonari took third place, ahead of former Shane Bynre, riding Rizla Suzuki, and Tommy Hill, the winner of the corresponding race last year for Virgin Mobile Yamaha.

Byrne made a super get-away in the second race, with Lavilla tucked in behind, and Haslam, third from Jonathan Rea and Hill, not far adrift, but there was opening lap misery for Kiyonari as he tipped off at Barn Corner. Lavilla was ahead on the third lap, with Haslam duelling with Byrne, with the latter sliding out of second place at Park Corner on the eighth lap.

Haslam was hot on the charge and within a couple of laps he was ahead, sweeping through on the inside at Park Corner, but, he could take nothing for granted as Harris was upping the tempo, breaking the lap record and closing on the leading duo.

The Honda rider grabbed second from Lavilla, as the reigning champion held on grimly as his bike snaked wickedly out of line, but on the penultimate Harris was down at the Chicane. Lavilla was back to second, but Haslam was on course for a second victory in three races: “I’m happy. There’s no explaining how much this means to me. The team have been great, the bike is awesome.

“I am just over the moon to think that at last I am ahead, and going into two of my favourite tracks, Silverstone and Brands Hatch I have to be feeling confident. But, a lot can happen, and with double points at stake in the final round it will be interesting.”

Haslam leads the title chase 352-337 ahead of Lavilla, with Kiyonari on 326 points.

Jonathan Rea claimed third place in the second race for Red Bull Honda, ahead of Hill and Harris who had re-mounted to take fifth place from the local hero Steve Plater, again deputising for the injured James Hayden aboard the Rizla Suzuki.

Marty Nutt, riding the NuttTravel.com Suzuki, and Michael Howarth, aboard the MAR Kawasaki, took the victories in the British Superbike Cup.

Results – round eleven – Cadwell Park:

Race One – 18 laps:

1, G Lavilla - Airwaves Ducati - 28m 03.401s, av.sp. 83.91mph
2, L Haslam - Airwaves Ducati - +5.307s
3, R Kiyonari - HM Plant Honda - +20.611s
4, S Byrne - Rizla Suzuki - +30.238
5, T Hill - Virgin Mobile Yamaha - +35.712s
6, G Richards - Hydrex Honda - +35.823s

Fastest lap:

Lavilla: 1m 29.888s, av.sp.87.30mph

Race Two – 18 laps:

1, L Haslam - Airwaves Ducati - 26m 34.675s, av.sp. 88.58mph
2, G Lavilla - Airwaves Ducati - + 5.859s
3, J Rea - Red Bull Honda - + 19.928s
4, T Hill - Virgin Mobile Yamaha - +23.784s
5, K Harris - HM Plant Honda - +24.399s
6, S Plater - Rizla Suzuki - +29.053s

Fastest lap:

Haslam: 1m 27.704s, av.sp. 89.48mph (record)

Championship standings:

1, L Haslam - 352
2, G Lavilla - 337
3, R Kiyonari - 326
4, S Byrne - 211
5, K Harris - 192
6, J Rea - 192
7, M Laverty - 152
8, T Hill - 151
9, M Rutter - 138
10, G Richards - 104

Related Links
www.britishsuperbike.com

Related News   bsb : Round Ten @ Croft; Rea Threatens To Spoil Party For Title Chasers   bsb : Persistent Heavy Rain Forces Cancelation At Mondello Park For Round 5   bsb : Round Ten @ Croft – Rea, At Record Breaking Pace, Claims Pole   bsb : Airwaves Ducati Return To Oulton Park For Round 9   bsb : Solid Performance for Hawk Kawasaki Round 6 Mallory Park   bsb : Lavilla At The Double Round Three At Thruxton   bsb : Round Nine – Oulton Park - Winning Double Puts Kiyonari Into Title Lead   bsb : Round Nine – Oulton Park – Maiden Pole For Harris At Record Pace   bsb : Kyonari Back On Top In Free Practice Round Six At Mallory Park – 2-3-4 June   bsb : Round 6 @ Mallory Park, Lavilla Takes Pole Start Ahead Of Haslam   bsb : Round Seven - Snetterton - Kiyonari Enjoys Daily Double Ahead Of Haslam   bsb : High-speed Home Round For Rizla Suzuki   bsb : Round Eleven – Cadwell Park – Haslam On The Charge   bsb : Round 8 @ Knockhill – Rea Scorches To First Pole Of Season   bsb : Round Eleven – Cadwell Park – Pole Delight For Haslam   bsb : Kiyonari Eclipses Lavilla In Free Practice, Round 5 @ Mondello Park   bsb : Round Six @ Mallory Park, Kiyonari And Lavilla Share The Victories   bsb : Round 8 @ Knockhill; Kiyonari And Byrne Take The Victories - Title Chase Wide Open   bsb : Round 9 @ Oulton Park – Haslam Dicates Terms In Free Practice   bsb : Round Seven – Snetterton – 16/17/18 June Haslam -Shatters Record To Claim Pole   bsb : Round Ten @ Croft; Haslam Grabs Sensational Victory To Close In On Title   bsb : Lavilla At The Double At Oulton Park Round Four

Comments Leave Your Comment: » Register now to leave comments! It's free and only takes a few seconds.