BSB: Haslam keen to return at Snetterton

Leon Haslam will return to action at this weekend’s fifth round of the 2017 MCE British Superbike Championship after the horrific highside that ruled him out of Knockhill.

The JG Speedfit Kawasaki rider was sidelined after he was knocked out and sustained two cracked vertebrae in a heavy crash in the opening laps of the first free practice session at the fourth round.

After being discharged from hospital in Scotland, he returned to his family’s Derbyshire home and saw a specialist in Nottingham to develop a rehabilitation plan that would see him back on track for Snetterton. 

Having lost the lead of the championship to team-mate Luke Mossey after missing the two races at Knockhill, Haslam is keen not to lose any more points as the battle for the showdown resumes however will need to pass a medical examination on Friday morning to be passed fit to ride. 

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“I had a meeting with a specialist on Tuesday and got the all clear from their point of view, it’s just time more than anything now, I’ve been in the hyperbaric chamber and getting physio daily,” Haslam said. “As well as the two cracked vertebrae I also had concussion and a bit of whiplash. In my head I am 100% riding, I had a few headaches and a bit of double vision last week but that’s quite common with the concussion and every day it’s getting better. There’s nothing broken or wrong with me to hinder me from riding.

“I don’t need to come back, I’ve missed the last three races and still have more podium credits than anyone so I can afford to miss another if I need to. I struggled at Snetterton last year, missed out on the podium there and Thruxton. We also missed the test at Snett, but I like the circuit and I’ve been fast there in testing before so I’m looking forward to it. There’ll be more competition from other manufacturers and the Ducati will be very competitive.

“It feels a lifetime ago that I won at Oulton, that was the last time I did more than three consecutive laps!” 

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