Stiggy Racing Honda and Leon Haslam will part company at the conclusion of this year’s World Superbike Championship after a very successful 2009. After team owner Johan Stigefelt assembled a high quality team of engineers and Honda machinery the ability of Haslam complemented that with results beyond all expectation.
But it has been a tough debut year off the track in the World Superbike Championship for Stiggy Racing Honda and persistent financial issues led to the Stiggy operation being forced to end its relationship with financial backers S2 Racing.
As a result, Johan Stigefelt and Leon Haslam took the mutual decision to part company to pursue their own respective options for the future.
"After the S2 Racing financial issues and complications it was clear that we had to address the future alone," said Stigefelt. "Our plans involved Leon but we are not fully in a position to commit for 2010 at this stage therefore its better for Leon to pursue his career elsewhere.
Stigefelt continued: "Overall, with Leon, it has been a great year. We didn’t know each other too well at the start but the experience has been thoroughly enjoyable and I hope we can work together again one day."
Haslam commented: "I think it’s fair to say that we started the year as complete underdogs and outsiders but I knew we had the potential with Johan’s team when I saw the guys he’d brought in for me.
My crew and the rest of the guys have done an excellent job and the results confirm their ability as a team. I want to thank Stiggy for this opportunity, for believing in me and getting me back in the top level of racing again. I hope Stiggy manages to regroup quickly as the team is still young and clearly has huge potential."
For 2010, Stiggy Racing Honda will shortly announce its presence in the World Superbike paddock with the exact plans still to be finalised.
