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News, Views & Racing Results ....
 HASLAM CLAIMS POLE AT RECORD PACE AT CADWELL PARK - 25-08-2007
Leon Haslam claimed pole start for the Holiday Monday eleventh round races in the Bennetts British Superbike Championship which are crucial to his hopes of taking the crown for the first time, and he did it in style, recording the fastest ever motorcycle lap of the Cadwell Park circuit.
The Airwaves Ducati rider might be playing catch-up on the HM Plant Honda duo of Ryuichi Kiyonari and Jonathan Rea in the points standings, but at the challenging 2.18 mile Lincolnshire circuit, Haslam proved the dominant force, shattering some 1.7 seconds off his own record and also running a third of a second faster than his pole time of last year.
“I always knew that this circuit would suit my bike and be good for me,” said Haslam with a satisfied smile after his scorching lap of 1m 26.081secs, at an average speed of 91.17mph.. “Over the past couple of years I’ve had race wins here and other podium finishes but now it is vital that I get more.”
Haslam starts the races on 288 points while Kiyonari, bidding to retain his crown leads Rea 348-322, and that is not lost on the 24 year old Derbyshire rider, who is confident that he can maintain his winning pedigree at the circuit.
“In terms of the title I have to win. It is a simple as that – these races are more important than ever as the there are only two other rounds remaining after this one.”
“I know that we have the pace now and am feeling good and confident for the races in which I have to peg back Kiyo and Jonny, but, I know that I have a good set-up to take them on. I cannot afford to drop any more points to the leaders here.”
Rea maintained the pressure on Haslam, closing in dramatically in the final minutes with a lap of 1m 26.182secs, while Tom Sykes maintained his fast maturing style by running his Stobart Vent-Axia Motorsport Honda third best in 1m 26.427secs. Gregorio Lavilla, the champion of two years ago, completes the front row of the grid with less than half a second between the top four.
Kiyonari, aiming to take his first ever victory at this circuit, in what is likely to be his final appearance here, heads the second row with a lap in 1m 26.659secs, just ahead of Bike Animal Honda rider Leon Camier, Cal Crutchlow on the Rizla Suzuki and Shane Byrne aboard the second of the Stobart Hondas.
Tommy Hill, with a lap in 1m 27.416secs, ran ninth to be on the third row along with Chris Walker, Karl Harris and Michael Rutter, with the Hawk Colchester Kawasaki duo of James Haydon and Scott Smart just adrift.
Tristan Palmer, riding the THR Honda, set the pace among the British Superbike Cup qualifiers, running with a lap of 1m 29.367secs, a third of a second up on the current leader and former title winner James Buckingham aboard the Quay Garage Honda.
Leading qualifying times
1 L Haslam Airwaves Ducati 1m 26.081secs, 91.17mph
2 J Rea HM Plant Honda 1m 26.182s
3 T Sykes Stobart Honda 1m 26.427s
4 G Lavilla Airwaves Ducati 1m 26.550s
5 R Kiyonari HM Plant Honda 1m 26.659s
6 L Camier Bike Animal Honda 1m 27.013s
7 C Crutchlow Rizla Suzuki 1m 27.053s
8 S Byrne Stobart Honda 1m 27.121s
9 T Hill Virgin Yamaha 1m 27.416s
10 C Walker Rizla Suzuki 1m 27.350s
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