News 28 Oct 2019

Adapting to KRT bike a fundamental problem admits Haslam

British ace completes WorldSBK comeback season in seventh.

Image: Supplied.

Leon Haslam admits adapting to the Kawasaki Racing Team ZX-10RR this season has been a fundamental problem after making his final outing with the outfit in Qatar.

Haslam, who started the WorldSBK season with a podium at Phillip Island, will be replaced by Alex Lowes in 2020, leaving his future under a cloud of uncertainty.

The British ace finished the season relatively strongly with a 5-4-9 scorecard, granting him seventh in the championship standings.

“The season has had its ups and down and I have had a fundamental problem of trying to adapt my style to what is needed on this bike,” Haslam explained. “Getting the bike stopped and battling has been one of the things I have struggled with and normally that is one of my strengths.

“But I have had some positive races, good battles in Australia, Misano and Aragon with Johnny. To win Suzuka this year has been fantastic. I had three good battles in the last three races of the year.”

Speculation at the weekend’s season-finale linked Haslam to a seat at the all-new Honda Racing Corporation (HRC) squad that will be introduced for the 2020 season, which has already signed Alvaro Bautista.

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