Haslam takes control of BSB title fight after Cadwell double
‘Rossi and Marquez both stick a leg out’ Unstoppable Haslam extends series lead but comes under attack for ‘dangerous’ riding style
Leon Haslam stamped his authority on the Bennetts British Superbike Championship with a double at Cadwell Park. The JG Speedfit Kawasaki rider clocked up his eighth and ninth victories of the season and has now won three times as many races than anyone else on the grid. Haslam’s 100-point lead may mean little with the Showdown ahead, but he now sits 31 podium credits (more than a race win) ahead of closest rival Jake Dixon. But Haslam’s race two victory courted controversy after a moment involving Jake Dixon on the final lap.
Haslam had passed Dixon for the lead on the penultimate lap, but the youngster wasn’t ready to give up. Knowing Dixon would try to get back at him at Park corner, Haslam rode defensively on the final lap but the RAF Kawasaki man still attempted a move, which had to be aborted when Haslam threw his customary leg out before pulling into the turn. Coming close to colliding with Haslam’s waving leg, Dixon ran on and conceded second to Bradley Ray who was some five seconds behind. “That was dangerous,” Dixon told MCN after the race. “When I went to go past I had to take my hand off the brake because I’d have gone onto the grass or hit his leg! “When do you say enough is enough? You don’t see Rossi sticking his leg out that far, it was stuck out at 90 degrees. He was only doing it to stop me getting past and I can’t see how that’s fair. I’m not one for moaning, I love hard racing but there’s hard racing and there’s things like that which could have ended badly for both of us if I’d hit his leg.”
RAF Kawasaki team boss Lee Hardy spoke with race director Stuart Higgs after the race. Higgs told MCN that race direction weren’t pleased with Haslam’s lastlap antics but didn’t believe there were grounds for a change in result. “I did the same with my leg every other lap,” Haslam said in defence. “Every time I change from left to right I use the leg to help change direction and get the bike stopped. “MotoGP riders dangle their leg, World Superbike riders do it and it’s not a problem there. I’m not doing it as a dangerous move, or to be spiteful, it’s a racing style that the likes of Rossi, Marquez; all the greats, use to their advantage. I’ve not read in a rule book that you can’t do it.”
Something key to Haslam’s title tilt is that he seems to have his rivals worked out. While he’s happy to accept he can’t beat them every time, the fact he’s finished on the rostrum in 13 of the last 15 races shows he’ll settle for the points when he needs to.
He said: “Each bike and rider has strengths and weaknesses; my job is to work out what they are and use that against them. Jake is a super-fast, naturally talented rider but lacks a bit of experience.”