Cadwell BSB: Haslam secures Showdown spot with race two win

JG Speedfit Kawasaki’s Leon Haslam had a two second advantage as he crossed the finishing line to win the second MCE British Superbike race at Cadwell Park, and the maximum points haul means that he secures his place in the Showdown as he got the better of rival Be Wiser Ducati’s Shane Byrne, closing the gap on the championship leader to 21 points.

Byrne had to settle for third, and bagged a podium credit, with Honda Racing’s Jason O’Halloran holding on to second at his local circuit.

At first it was O’Halloran who got the hole-shot only for Byrne to edge ahead on lap one. But there was drama on the very first lap as there was a big crash involving ePayMe Yamaha’s stand-in rider, Howie Mainwaring and Quattro Plant Kawasaki’s Filip Backlund at Charlies.

Both riders were taken to the medical centre for further assessment and the safety car came out for three laps. When the safety car went back into the pits it was Byrne, Haslam and O’Halloran who led the way.

But on lap five the ZX-10R and Panigale of the duelling racers touched slightly and Haslam was able to get ahead, with Byrne slipping back to third as the Fireblade of O’Halloran overtook him at Chris Curve.

Meanwhile at Park Corner on lap twelve of the eighteen lapper Hickman passed Linfoot to go into fourth. At the flag local lad Hickman finished in fourth, ahead of Bennetts Suzuki’s Tommy Bridewell, Honda Racing’s Dan Linfoot, Irwin, Ellison, Mossey, with Dixon completing the top ten.

All the riders decided to remain with the same Pirelli tyres that they had in the opening race, with many opting for the soft SC0 rear and the softer SC1 front tyre compounds. Mossey went for the harder SC1 rear. Haslam decided to run with the SC2 front tyre, as did both his team-mates Hickman, Ellison and Buildbase BMW’s Richard Cooper.

It was a double DNF of the weekend for Iddon who was involved in a crash with Buildbase BMW’s Richard Cooper at the Hairpin. Both the riders were able to walk away from their falls, but the incident is being investigated by race control.

Local youngster, Buildbase BMW’s Lee Jackson, Tyco BMW’s Michael Laverty, McConnell, Buchan and Hopkins were the last of the points finishers.