Leon Haslam and Cal Crutchlow reckon that they will have the top end speed to beat off the challenge of Bennetts British Superbike Championship leader Shane Byrne on the super-fast Snetterton circuit in this weekend’s fifth round.
The HM Plant Honda duo have jetted back from riding in a 300kms race in Japan and are raring to go at the Norfolk circuit that in recent years has favoured the Fireblades.
“Normally the Hondas go well there – last year for instance Ryuichi Kiyonari took a winning double – so I am really looking forward to getting out there and going for the results,” said Haslam.
“I enjoy riding the circuit, though in the past when I’ve raced there I’ve been on a slower bike, but have been quick through the corners so have always been in contention, but now with the bike I have, I am feeling good for strong results.”
Haslam, fourth in the rankings, is playing catch-up in the title stakes after an indifferent start to the campaign: “There are a lot of points to be scored, and the title is far from decided. We are making a lot of progress with our new bike and while I have not had the best of starts, now is the time to begin clawing the points back.
“I need to win races and this is a circuit that we know suits our bike – we’ve not been a million miles away in any of the races so far, Shakey Byrne has a good package, and we are getting there and mean business in this round.”
They are views that Crutchlow shares – he is buoyant after taking eighth place in the gruelling Japanese endurance race, but ready to go, taking the fight to Byrne whom he trails by 68 points in the title stakes.
Crutchlow, twice a winner so far, is the only rider to have beaten the Airwaves Ducati rider this season, and that is something that he is intent on achieving again in this round, although the confident Byrne is ready to take on all-comers.
He has won six of the eight races so far, showing the speed and style that took him to the crown five years ago, and the rider who commutes from his Zurich home to race is confident that he can score consistently despite the threat of the Hondas.
Leon Camier, aboard the second Airwaves bike, will also be a strong contender, but, they all have to deal with the growing threat of Tom Sykes aboard the Rizla Suzuki, who after two podium finishes so far is long overdue a seasonal first victory.
That is also the case for James Ellison aboard the Hydrex Bike Animal Honda – he has been racking up the points with a best result of second in the recent Oulton Park round to be just ahead of North West 200 Ducati rider Michael Rutter in the standings.
Michael Laverty will be hoping to match the speed of his Isle of Man TT winning team-mate Cameron Donald as he races that bike, in Relentless Suzuki colours, in what promises to be a fast moving scrap with MSS Discovery Kawasaki riders Stuart Easton and Billy McConnell, with Karl Harris promising a surprise or two aboard the Rob Mac Racing Yamaha.
John Laverty will be looking to tighten his grip on the Daily Star Cup, but his Buildbase NW200 Ducati could be under threat from the Hondas of Martin Jessopp and Tom Tunstall while Chris Burns could head them off aboard the STP MV Agusta.
Around the two Superbike races there is action counting to the Fuchs-Silkolene British Supersport Championship, the Relentless 125GP British Championship, the Metzeler National Superstock 600 and 1000 Championships, Henderson Yamaha R1 Cup, Focused Events KTM 900 Super Duke Battle, while on Saturday, after the Swan Combi 50 Roll for Pole grid decider for the Superbikes there is a round of the UEM European Supermono Cup.
For the Record Lap records - 1.9520 mile circuit:Superbike: Ryuichi Kiyonari, Honda, 1m 04.688s, 108.63mph, 18/06/06
Supersport: Tom Sykes, Suzuki, 1m 07.587s, 103.97mph, 18/06/06
Superstock: Glen Richards, Yamaha, 1:07.499s, 104.09mph, 20/05/07
600 Superstock: Craig Jones, Suzuki, 1m 11.505s, 98.27mph, 03/06/02
125GP: Daniel Cooper, Honda, 1m 13.430s, 95.69mph, 18/06/06
Yamaha R1: to be established
KTM 990: Dave Wood, KTM, 1:13.440, 95.67mph, 19/05/07
Superbikes on TrackFriday 13rd June10.30-11.20 and 14.35-15.25 (Free practice)
Saturday 14th June10.25-11.15 (Free practice)
15.00-15.50 Swan Combi 50 Roll for Pole grid deciding session
Sunday 15th June09.20-09.35 (Warm-up practice)
13.15 Race one – 21 laps
16.30 Race two – 21 laps
Superbikes on TelevisionBritish Eurosport 2Sun 15th June1300-1400 LIVE raceday
1530-17.45 LIVE raceday
2045-2215 Highlights
Mon 16th June 1730-1900 Highlights
Tue 17th June 2100-2230 Highlights
Thu 19th June 2100-2200 Bennetts British Superbikes Extra
Mon 23rd June 1430-1600 Highlights
Thu 26th June 1700-1800 Highlights
Channel 4Wed 18th June01.10-02.05
FlashbackRd - 5 20 May 2007 Bennetts British Superbike Championship:Pole: S Byrne, Honda, 1m 04.908s
Race One - 22 laps1. R Kiyonari, Honda, 24:00.140
2. J Rea, Honda, 24:00.417
3. L Haslam, Ducati, 24:08.349
4. T Sykes, Honda, 24:13.121
5. L Camier, Honda, 24:14.325
6. G Lavilla, Ducati, 24:14.519
Fastest lap: G Lavilla, Ducati, 1m 04.730s, 108.54mph/174.68kph
Race Two - 24 laps1. R Kiyonari, Honda, 26:56.071
2. J Rea, Honda, 26:56.696
3. S Byrne, Honda, 26:56.991
4. T Sykes, Honda, 27:00.311
5. L Haslam, Ducati, 27:00.381
6. L Camier, Honda, 27:01.721
Fastest lap: R Kiyonari, Honda, 1m 04.777s, 108.46mph/174.56kph
British Superbike Cup:Race One: 1. M Nutt, Yamaha, 25:05.561
Race Two: 1. M Nutt, Yamaha, 27:35.189
Rider’s view:“A real high-speed track and one I love to race although have been on the back-foot a bit in terms of top speed in recent years, but that should change with the Honda,” Leon Haslam, HM Plant Honda
