Leon Haslam finally got his first Bennetts British Superbike win on theboard for HM Plant Honda at Knockhill today. The victory in race two made up for his retirement in the first race, which was due to a misfire. His team-mate Cal Crutchlow suffered a disappointing day. He crashed in race one, before having to start at the back of the grid for the re-start of race two. Despite this handicap the Coventry rider managed to scythe his way through the field to finish in seventh place. In the Metzeler National Superstock 1000 race Steve Brogan toon his CBR1000RR Fireblade to yet another win - his sixth in eight races. He faced a tougher battle in the Fuchs-Silkolene British Supersport event, where a bad start saw him way down the order. He managed to fight back to 11th place at the flag.
Leon Haslam - HM Plant Honda
British Superbike - Honda CBR1000RR FirebladeRACE ONE: DNF
RACE TWO: 1st position"That's such a relief! It feels like I've got a monkey off my back, as this win's been a long time coming! The team have worked so hard so it's great to finally give them the reward for it. Obviously it wasn't the way I wanted to win it, with Shane Byrne falling off, but I was reeling him in after he'd pulled a bit of a gap through backmarkers so I felt the win was mine. It also made up for the disappointment of the first race. I was slowing down to come into the pits when Shakey caught me and knocked me down at very slow speed. This fires me up for the rest of the season and I'm looking forward to Cadwell Park."
Cal Crutchlow - HM Plant Honda
British Superbike - Honda CBR1000RR Fireblade
RACE ONE: DNF
RACE TWO: 7th position"I'm very disappointed overall. In the first race it was a stupid crash n pretty dodgy conditions really - half wet, half dry. I hold my hands up to it as it was my mistake as I hit a wet patch. It was my fault! The second race was a lottery really with the conditions and on tyre choice and we made the wrong one. On the sighting lap I realised so we had about a minute to get onto the spare bike with slicks and unfortunately we were too late and had to start from the back of the grid on about the wettest part of the track. I carved my way through but was disappointed not to finish higher up, especially on a day when I so wanted to get a double win."
Steve Brogan - HM Plant Honda / Honda (UK) Racing
British Supersport - HM Plant Honda CBR600RR11th position
British Superstock - Honda (UK) Racing CBR1000RR Fireblade 1st position"Another win in Superstock is great, but once again Jon Kirkham has finished second so I've not got as much advantage out of it as I would have liked. Still, it's brilliant to win again on the 2008 Fireblade and we're getting closer to having a two-race cushion in the points. In Supersport I've won before so it's frustrating to finish 11th. I expected a win to be honest, but I got a poor start, which is my own fault. The tall first gear we run to get out of the hairpin doesn't help and we bogged down off the line. That was pretty frustrating and it took me a lap or two to make up some ground. Between now and Cadwell Park I will be training hard to be in the best shape for the next round."
Havier Beltran - HM Plant Honda team manager"I'm really pleased for Leon he worked hard all weekend and has really gone from strength to strength. I think with both our riders their experience at the Suzuka 8-hour has helped them and Leon in particular is feeling more confident in the front-end of the HM Plant Honda Fireblade. It's a shame he had the technical problem in the first race, but he did the right thing with the misfire and was coasting round to enter the pits when he had the coming together with Shakey and down he went. Cal was so disappointed as he felt he was on podium pace, but he just couldn't get to grips with that last sector. The tyre choice for the second part of race two was wrong, but we missed the window to get him out on slicks to take his place on the grid. Either way, we now have two riders who are confident of winning in the class, which is very positive for the team. For Steve it was another superb win in the Superstock class. He's so strong and consistent in that class and he's showing bo th his skills and the strength of the 2008 CBR1000RR Fireblade. In Supersport I think it's frustrating as he's losing out a little on acceleration so that's something for us to look at."
