BSB: Haslam doubles up again, takes 64 point lead from Snetterton

Leon Haslam has built a commanding lead in the British Superbike championship after his second consecutive double in 2018, taking both wins at Snetterton 300. The ‘Pocket Rocket’ had his work cut out in race one to come through the field but was involved in a titanic scrap for the win with Josh Brookes and Jake Dixon in race two – coming out on top by a mere 0.004s.

Haslam’s double at Snetterton, coinciding with a double DNF from Bradley Ray and an absent Shane Byrne, sees his lead stretch to a sensational 64 points after just two rounds, although he is just 14 points clear of Brad Ray on podium points.

“This is a great result and probably more than people realise from the outside. I’ve never won at Snetterton and we knew that was a challenge on its own, but also my bike doesn’t suit this circuit.
“Furthermore – and most importantly – making the SC0 tyre last in cool conditions, we even beat another Kawasaki using a hard tyre with Jake (Dixon). We used the same tyre as Josh (Brookes), normally the Yamaha is better on that tyre so this shows how much work the team has done to make it work for us,” said the 2017 bronze medalist.

The double marks Haslam’s first since the opening round of 2017, at Donington Park and Kawasaki’s first at Snetterton since Shane ‘Shakey’ Byrne on the PBM Kawasaki in 2015.

“We’ve made some big changes with the set-up on the bike to try and help it and it’s really positive and the results show that. We are looking forward to doing a test at Knockhill before we go there to race. I must say a big thank you to all the team for all their efforts and hard work,” he concluded.

The next round comes from Knockhill – a circuit that Leon Haslam crashed at in practice last year and missed racing through injury. His last win at the circuit was in 2016 on a Kawasaki and his only other victory at the Scottish venue is from 2008, on a HM Plant Honda.