Oulton Park British Superbikes: Leon Haslam ready for a second half season kickstart

Leon Haslam has said he’s ready to put his dramas from the first half of the season behind him this weekend at Oulton Park.

The 25-year old currently sits fourth in the championship, 132 points adrift of Shane Byrne at the top of the standings.

But the HM Plant rider says his season is far from over, and Oulton Park could be a change in fortunes.

He said: “We want wins now – no question.

“We know it’s going to be difficult as the Ducati is the package to beat, but we’re not giving up.

“Despite the break the team has been busy with the bikes and we hope to have made some improvements for Oulton this weekend.

“I really want to win this weekend, as it will kick-start the second-half of my season.

“Oulton is a fantastic circuit and one which I enjoy racing on, so it would be great to start a run of wins from here.”

On his last visit to Oulton in May Haslam had a difficult weekend, finishing second in race one and then having his points from race two stripped away from him for ‘careless riding’ after a racing collision with Tom Sykes.

And it wasn’t a much better weekend for his team-mate Cal Crutchlow.

He started the May Bank Holiday weekend at Oulton Park in top fashion, securing his first BSB pole.

But two crashes cost him wins and also left him with a badly injured ankle.

And sitting second in the rider standings at the mid-season point, Crutchlow says he’s set his sights on Shakey at the top.

“After passing my test and riding on the road a fair bit,

“I’m eager to get back on a race bike instead of a road bike!

“I’m looking forward to our second trip to Oulton Park.

“At the first outing there we proved we were fast in wet or dry so whatever the weather we should be up there.

“With the season now half gone we need to get a double and that’s what we’re aiming for, but if we can’t beat Shakey

“I want to be the one right behind him.

“There are no mugs out there, I love racing these guys and there’s no shame in finishing second even if we all want to win.”