Haydon on Virgin leave

James Haydon has been replaced in the Virgin Media Yamaha team due to an alleged shoulder injury.

He is being replaced ‘for at least two races’ by South African Hudson Kennaugh, currently placed second in the National Superstock series.

According to an official Virgin Media Yamaha press release, Haydon, “in a cruel twist of fate, suffered a shoulder injury while out training on his mountain bike.”

The release said Haydon was on his regular training ride in preparation for this weekend’s fourth round of the Bennetts British Superbike Championship. This is when he sustained ligament damage to his left shoulder and may have aggravated injuries sustained in his Snetterton crash last year when he collided with Dean Thomas at the Esses.

The release says that doctors have advised Haydon to take time out in order to minimise the recovery period.

The news comes on the back off a disappointing Silverstone weekend for Haydon. While he’s struggled to adapt to the Pirelli-shod R1 and has been well off the pace at each of the three rounds, team-mate Tommy Hill has been nothing but competitive, and big questions had been asked about Haydon’s future in the team.

Sources in the WSB paddock at Assen last weekend suggested that Andrew Pitt had been offered Haydon’s ride for the Silverstone round but the Australian had a prior commitment in the World Supersport round (where he finished second) and allegedly turned down the offer. Virgin team boss Rob McElnea refused to confirm or deny the approach.

Haydon being sidelined gives Kennaugh a big chance to prove himself on a superbike. 

The 26-year-old South African currently lies second in the National Superstock Championship on a Raceways Yamaha and has continued the form he showed last year also on an R1.

Only last weekend at Silverstone he set a new lap record on his way to victory. He will test the Virgin R1 superbike at Cadwell Park today and race at Oulton Park this weekend.

Kennaugh previously tested a Rizla Suzuki at Donington in 2005.
According to inside sources, Steve Plater is also expected to test the Virgin Yamaha at Cadwell today in a bid to help sort his own AIM Yamaha in readiness for next week’s North West 200.

Plater won both superbike races at the prestigious Irish road race last year riding factory HM Plant Hondas but has struggled to sort the privateer AIM Yamaha in BSB so far this year.

The bike has plenty of horsepower for the high-speed course but the power delivery has been too harsh coming off the corners and unsettles the bike.