Assen BSB: Haslam closes gap on series leader Byrne with maximum points haul

JG Speedfit Kawasaki’s MCE British Superbike title challenger Leon Haslam has been confirmed as an entry in the Japanese Superbike finale at Suzuka.

As revealed by BSN some weeks ago, Haslam will join his Suzuka Eight-Hours team-mates Akira Yanagawa and Kazuki Watanabe in the event on November 6.

“It’s going to be a busy end to the season. I pushed hard to ride at the Suzuka Eight-Hours race as I knew I JG Speedfit Kawasaki’s Leon Haslam did the MCE British Superbike double at Assen and in both races kept fellow Showdown rider, Be Wiser Ducati’s Shane Byrne at bay, to come away from the penultimate round of the championship with a total of 50 points.

Haslam now closes the gap on series leader Byrne to seventeen points, meaning the fight for the title will go down to the final round at Brands Hatch. In the cooler temperatures, Haslam was one of only three rider’s who decided to run with the harder Pirelli tyres at the front and back of his ZX-10R in race two. It appeared that he made the right tyre choice as he held off the challenges from Byrne in a fight that went right down to the wire.

In the opening race Haslam narrowly won, by the smallest of margins - 0.01s to be exact, but he had a 0.2 second advantage in the final race and ploughed on ahead to bag the Dutch double. Now Haslam is looking forward to challenging Byrne at his home round at Brands Hatch.

“A double win here we can go into the final round of the showdown with our heads held high. We understand what we need to do with this bike. We raced the zero at Brands GP last time and since then we have been riding the one but we will see what that brings,” said Haslam, at the circuit.

“From my perspective (Byrne) smoked me at Donington and that is my back yard and I want to do the same to him at his (at Brands). Brands is a good track and I enjoy it.

“It’s fantastic to be leaving here with the double. That second race I was watching Shakey’s pit board and could see him coming through the pack so I knew he was there and that last lap I rode defensively to get it done.

“A huge thanks to the team, we struggled a bit but they got it turned around and we can head to Brands with a chance. Shakey rode fantastically today and Brands is his home round so we know he’ll be fast, but I’m feeling good on the bike and we know our strengths so I’m looking forward to it.”ould deliver a great result. To be asked back to ride in the JSB final is flattering and I will try as hard as I can to get on the podium,” said Haslam.