Haslam Looking for French Success

Leon Haslam is hoping to take a step forward from his recent consistency when he challenges for a first win of the year in the 13th and penultimate World Superbike Championship round of 2009 at the Magny-Cours circuit in France on Sunday.

Haslam has taken the Stiggy Racing Honda machine to 12 top six finishes this year, including four podium finishes, and is looking for further podium success in the last four races in France this Sunday and then in Portugal on October 25.

The 26-year-old is sixth in the World Championship points standings and is the leading private team rider of 2009, an impressive 64 points ahead of the next non-factory rider.

"Weve certainly found some consistency in recent races and its all credit to Stiggy and the team that weve been able to get those results, said Haslam. The team has had a turbulent time of late but there was a really genuine team spirit in Imola last weekend and Im sure that will carry us through the final two rounds.Haslam is also looking to add to his two front row starts in Holland in April and in Germany three weeks ago with an improved qualifying performance in France this weekend".

Haslam continued: "Again, I missed out on challenging for the front row by just 0.05s in Imola last Saturday so were very close to being there on a regular basis now and I just need to ensure I get the clean, fast laps when I need to on the two qualifying tyres were allowed.Magny-Cours provides a technical test for us in terms of set-up but Im pretty confident that with the team I have behind me that we can again find the race setting and be near the front in Sundays two races".