Airwaves Ducati head to the 2.17 mile Croft circuit in North Yorkshire this weekend, for round 10 of the Bennetts British Superbike Championship. Having tested there earlier in the season, the riders will be using the progress made to perform at their best on the fast straights and tight hairpin’s.
The team has enjoyed a 3 week break from racing following an unusual weekend at Mallory Park, when the riders had limited practice and no qualifying session prior to the race. From 3rd place on the grid Leon achieved a 3rd and 2nd place, whilst Greg came 5th and 7th having started 4th.
With the championship entering its final stages, both Airwaves Ducati riders are looking to secure valuable championship points at Croft this weekend. Leon Haslam enjoyed a sensational victory there last year, when he closed down a 9 second gap on Karl Harris to take his first win of the season. Greg also had a successful weekend recording two 3rd places.
Leon stated after the last round that he was looking forward to moving onto some of his favourite circuits towards the end of the season. “I have really good memories from Croft last year, it was one of my best races of the season and I am looking forward to trying to repeat that performance this weekend. I have had a couple of weeks at home relaxing and then getting back into my normal training routine, which has been going well. We are coming to a number of tracks that suit the Ducati now; we have closed the gap on the championship lead to just 31 points and I am looking forward to gaining some points back at some of my more favoured tracks over the next few rounds.”
Greg has spent the break since the last race recovering from the injury to his ribs that he suffered at Oulton Park. “When I returned to Spain I found out that I had suffered 2 small cracks to my ribs. They are still a bit painful at times but I spent the first week of the break relaxing, I then started training again and I now feel much better; the injury should not affect my performance this weekend.” Following a sun filled few weeks in Spain he has his concerns about the weather this weekend adding, “We have had rain affected races for the last two years at Croft but we know we are capable of performing well there. It is not a difficult track and we tested there recently with good results. We will have to see what the weather is going to be like; I am hoping that it will stay dry and that I can have two good practice sessions on Friday and then qualify well. If I am able to do that then I will be confident for a good performance in the races on Sunday.”
Round 10 at Croft commences on Sunday 12th August.
