LEON HASLAM says he can improve on an already successful start to the 2010 World Superbike championship when the series goes to Valencia, Spain, this coming weekend for Round Three.
Haslam qualified on the front row of the grid for the two previous rounds, Phillip Island and Portimao, winning the opening race in Australia and finishing second in the next three races.
And his two-day test session at Valencia in December proved successful as he set the fastest time on the opening day and was pipped by Max Biaggi, by 0.2s, on day two. Each day Haslam was inside the existing lap record.
“I’m ready to go again and I’d like to think I can improve on those second places in Portugal with wins in Spain – but there’s probably 10 or 15 other riders all thinking the same,” says Haslam.
He continues: “Biaggi had the edge on me down the long start and finish straight in Portugal but I’m hoping the way we’ve got the Alstare Suzuki working plus the knowledge we have from the December test here will be enough to put us at the front on Sunday.
“Looking back on Portugal, as a team, we know that we couldn’t have done any more so to get two second places, to be 0.2s behind the winner in both races and to extend the lead of the Championship was good enough that day – but I’d prefer to be winning.”
Haslam leads the World Championship by 16 points as he heads into the third round with races in Holland, Italy and South Africa all to come in the five weeks following the Spanish event.
“By the time we leave Kyalami I’m sure there’ll be more of a clear picture in terms of the Championship so until then it’s a case of head down and try to grab as many wins and points as possible,” says Haslam who finished fifth in both races at Valencia last year.
2010 WSB Standings after 4 races
1. Leon Haslam Suzuki 85
2. Max Biaggi Aprilia 69
3. Carlos Checa Ducati 60
4. Michel Fabrizio Ducati 46
5. Noriyuki Haga Ducati 43
6. Jonathan Rea Honda 39
7. Sylvain Guintoli Suzuki 33
8. Leon Camier Aprilia 32
9. Troy Corser BMW 29
10. Cal Crutchlow Yamaha 25
11. James Toseland Yamaha 25
12. Shane Byrne Ducati 25
13. Lorenzo Lanzi Ducati 15
14. Ruben Xaus BMW 10
15. Jakub Smrz Ducati 8
16. Tom Sykes Kawasaki 7
17. Max Neukirchner Honda 5
18. Joshua Brookes Honda 2
19. Andrew Pitt BMW 2
