Haslam starts WSB career in style
Added on Monday, November 3rd, 2008 by Carole Nash Editor | No Comments
Haslam impressed his new employers with a podium finish.
Leon Haslam signalled his early arrival on the World Superbikes circuit with a podium finish in Portimao on Sunday.
The British Superbikes Championship runner-up warmed up for his move to World Superbikes next season with a wild-card ride at the all-new Portimao circuit this weekend and his new employers at Stiggy Honda will be more than happy with the early promise shown by Haslam as he recorded a podium finish in race two.
Riding a BSB spec Honda CBR, Haslam was just 0.718 of a second behind Ducati rider Michel Fabrizio in second place as Troy Bayliss recorded a double win on his last ever WSB appearance.
Earlier in race one, Haslam finished ninth - the position that teammate and fellow wildcard Cal Crutchlow recorded in the second outing having failed to finish in race one.
Crutchlow will also leave the BSB championship to move to World Supersport, with Tom Sykes and Shayne Byrne also making the move from BSB to WSB with Yamaha and Sterilgarda Ducati respectively.
For Haslam, the result gave him a taste of his ambitions for 2009 and the 25-year-old is eyeing more podium finishes next season.
“Everyone knows I’m moving to World Superbike in 2009 so I think this podium bodes well for me and 2009,” he claimed.
“I’m staying with the Honda family with Stiggy Honda - which is important to me - and I’m looking forward to next season.
“I’ve wanted to be back on the World scene for a while, so to podium here at the last race of the season and my final race for HM Plant Honda is just brilliant. It’s a fantastic finish to my season with HM Plant Honda - they’ve been awesome - and it’s great to finish the season on a high.”
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