Cycle News is a weekly magazine that covers all aspects of motorcycling including Supercross, Motocross and MotoGP as well as new motorcycles
Issue link: https://magazine.cyclenews.com/i/1009427
IN THE WIND P44 HASLAM BACK IN WORLDSBK O ne-time WorldSBK runner- up Leon Haslam will make a full-time comeback in 2019 as teammate to Jonathan Rea on the Kawasaki Racing Team squad. In 220 previous starts, Haslam has been a race winner five times in WorldSBK, but a podium placer on a more impressive 39 occasions in all. He has taken those podiums on six different types of machinery. He was runner-up in 2010 for Al- stare Suzuki, with only Max Biaggi ahead of him on a factory Aprilia. Currently the runaway leader in the BSB Championship (by 80 points) for the JG Speedfit Kawa- saki squad, Haslam has made no secret of wanting to go back into the global scene. He has taken up every available chance to ride as a WorldSBK wildcard since his return to the BSB paddock in 2016, competing for both the Pedercini and Puc- cetti squads at world level. He famously took a second place in 2017, at his home circuit of Don- ington Park, when riding for the Puccetti team as a wildcard. Still fast at 35, few may expect Haslam to truly challenge for the championship itself in an era dominated by Rea, but all expect Haslam to be able to fight for wins and podiums. His transition back to the world championship should be straightforward compared to some routes, as he will ride a WorldSBK Kawasaki on Pirellis, having been riding a BSB Kawa- saki on Pirellis. It is understandably difficult to see Haslam getting the better of his teammate, Rea, too often, but do not, however, underestimate the possibilities that a factory Kawasaki will offer a rider such as him in 2019. Rea and Haslam have been WorldSBK teammates before, inside the Pata Honda/Ten Kate squad in 2013 and 2014. They recently teamed up for the official Team Green Kawasaki squad in the Suzuka 8 Hours, alongside Kazuma Watanabe. They took pole before finishing the race in third place, after a few dramas. Haslam was understandably stoked at getting back into the WorldSBK fold on what is surely the most coveted ride of all. "Returning to the World Super- bike Championship is something I'm really looking forward to," said Haslam. "After scoring race wins, lap records, pole positions and a championship runner-up position in my seven years there, it's going to be great to get back to WorldS- BK. The support of Kawasaki throughout my three years in the British Superbike Championship, and via KHI at the Suzuka 8 Hours race, has been exceptional. The like-minded approach from Ka- wasaki UK and KHI in Japan has been really appreciated and I'm now hoping to repay them with the 2018 British Superbike title and then to challenge for next year's WorldSBK Championship." Haslam will join KRT for its usually comprehensive winter test program but his primary concern, as he has indicated, is to become BSB champion for the first time after being runner-up on three previous occasions. Gordon Ritchie Leon Haslam will be back in WorldSBK in 2019, this time as teammate to Jonathan Rea.