BSB: Haslam: 'I'm glad to have walked away from that one!'

Leon Haslam’s hopes of winning the 2017 MCE British Superbike title were dashed at Brands Hatch this weekend after a brake failure in the final race saw him forced to jump off his machine.

Haslam’s front brake lever came back to the bar when he tried to put the anchors on to slow from his 172mph speed to make Hawthorn’s bend as he tried to fend off 2017 title challenger Shane Byrne, leaving him with no choice but to slam on the rear brake and eject himself from the JG Speedfit Kawasaki.

Not only were his title hopes over, but Haslam sustained a broken left ankle, right wrist and bruised thumb in the crash.

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Despite that, he demanded medics take him to the grid to congratulate title victor Byrne before going to the medical centre. He’d then return home and head to Queens Medical Centre in Nottingham for surgery to pin the ankle.

“That really wasn’t what we needed,” Haslam told MCN after the crash. “To be honest, after crashing at that speed, while I’m absolutely gutted to have lost the title I’m glad to have walked away from that one. Well, I didn’t quite walk away but I’m alright.

“We did everything we could this year, but it is what it is. Big congratulations to Shakey, he’s almost had as many DNFs as me this year so he deserves it!” 

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