Haslam keeps British title alive

From britishsuperbike.com

HM Plant Honda's Leon Haslam took a stunning victory in the second Bennetts British Superbike Championship race at Croft on Sunday, in one of the most exhilarating races of the season that means the title fight moves on to Silverstone in two weeks time.

"That was a satisfying race," Haslam said. "I didn't get the start I wanted and I was a bit disappointed not to win the first race as I would have been the only rider to win four races in a row but it wasn't to be. Once I got going I just got my head down and when I passed Tom [Sykes] I knew I had to get a gap on him. I just need to thank the HM Plant Honda team and it is good to win here for HM Plant as many of them are here this weekend."

Airwaves Ducati's Leon Camier barged his way to the front to take his second Bennetts British Superbike Championship victory of the season in the opening race.

"It is awesome to win again," Camier said. "We made the breakthrough at Cadwell Park and the bike is working well and we kicked it off again here. It is a case of learning to ride the Ducati and a few races before we were quick then losing out but we have figured it out."

Cal Crutchlow launched to the front of the pack from pole position in the opening race with Tom Sykes tucking the Rizla Suzuki in behind and Haslam passing Shane Byrne to move third on the first lap.

Sykes was eager to pass the HM Plant Honda and as the pack rounded the Hairpin to complete the opening lap he dived down the inside to move to the front. Meanwhile team-mate Crutchlow lost his second place to Haslam on the second lap when he had a moment at the Complex.

Haslam was then shadowing the leading Rizla Suzuki and waited until lap seven to make his move, passing at Tower to take the lead.

Camier was really the rider on the move though. On lap nine he was handed an advantage from Crutchlow, who had a moment where he went wide and was lucky to stay onboard the HM Plant Honda that dropped him from third to fifth.

The next lap Camier was on the attack again, passing Sykes into the Complex and then he began to shadow Haslam. Just a few laps later he challenged for the front and he managed to force his way past Haslam at Tower to take the lead.

The battle then was really on for the final podium place with a three-way tussle between Sykes, Crutchlow and Byrne. On the final lap as they attacked the Hairpin for the final time Sykes lunged down the inside of Byrne and the pair touched, pushing them both wide. Sykes was able to recover and hold third while Crutchlow took advantage of Byrne's wide line to take fourth, with the championship leader relegated to fifth.

In race two Crutchlow got another flying start, as did Michael Rutter who was tucked in behind on the North West 200 Ducati, but Sykes was able to steal second on the opening lap.

Camier was lying fourth on lap three and made a move on Rutter at the Hairpin, diving down the inside which pushed them both wide, with 'The Blade' dropping back to fifth as a consequence.

Crutchlow meanwhile was still leading the chasing pack onboard the HM Plant Honda, but Sykes was shadowing his every move and on lap 10 he was able to take the inside line into the lead Hairpin which put him at the front.

Haslam had moved ahead of Camier by the ninth lap and the front five were separated by the smallest of margins. The second Airwaves Ducati of championship leader Byrne had a disastrous start to his race and was lying 10th on the opening lap, but by lap 14 he had caught and passed Rutter to put himself fifth.

There was a dramatic dice starting on lap 14 between Haslam and Camier for third, with the Airwaves Ducati taking advantage on the approach to the Complex. Haslam was fighting back straight away and regained the lead on the approach to Clerveaux.

Haslam then targeted his teammate and was able to make a move that stuck with three laps of the 20-lap race remaining, while Byrne was then fourth and needed to secure nine points more than Sykes to be crowned 2008 Bennetts British Superbike Champion.

Haslam made his move on Sykes on the penultimate lap at Tower to move ahead and was able to hold off the challenges of the Rizla Suzuki to win his fourth race of the season. On the final lap Byrne was putting pressure on Crutchlow for the final podium position as he tried to close in on the title, but the HM Plant Honda rider put in a determined last lap that ensured he was back on the podium for the first time in five races.

Race one result
1. Leon Camier (Airwaves Ducati)
2. Leon Haslam (HM Plant Honda) +2.544
3. Tom Sykes (Rizla Suzuki) +6.113
4. Cal Crutchlow (HM Plant Honda) +6.366
5. Shane Byrne (Airwaves Ducati) +6.581
6. Michael Rutter (North West 200 Ducati) +13.889
7. Michael Laverty (Relentless Suzuki by TAS) +19.031
8. Karl Harris (Rob Mac Racing Yamaha) +19.583
9. James Ellison (Hydrex Bike Animal Honda) +19.722
10. Simon Andrews (Lloyds British Yamaha) +24.907

Race two result
1. Leon Haslam (HM Plant Honda)
2. Tom Sykes (Rizla Suzuki) +1.133
3. Cal Crutchlow (HM Plant Honda) +1.614
4. Shane Byrne (Airwaves Ducati) +1.864
5. Leon Camier (Airwaves Ducati) +3.740
6. Michael Rutter (North West 200 Ducati) +9.788
7. James Ellison (Hydrex Bike Animal Honda) +17.037
8. Karl Harris (Rob Mac Racing Yamaha) 18.735
9. Simon Andrews (Lloyds British Yamaha) 19.893
10. Michael Lavety (Relentless Suzuki by TAS) +21.857

Championship Standings
1. Shane Byrne (Airwaves Ducati) 388
2. Leon Haslam (HM Plant Honda) 294
3. Tom Sykes (Rizla Suzuki) 290
4. Cal Crutchlow (HM Plant Honda) 265
5. Leon Camier (Airwaves Ducati) 241