Halsam Preps for 2011 World Superbike

2011 BMW World Superbike

In the 2010 World Superbike Championship, then Suzuki-Alstare rider Leon Haslam finished second overall behind title-winner Max Biaggi on the Aprilia RSV4.

Trailing Biaggi by 75 points, the Brit will be looking to build more momentum in the 2011 Superbike campaign. But it’ll be more challenging, considering Haslam will be contesting on the BMW Motorrad S1000RR, a machine that has yet to find its competitive edge in WSBK.

Entering his fourth year in the production-based World Superbike series, Haslam, 27, will compete on the BMW for the Munich and Stephanskirchen-based team alongside double world champion Troy Corser.

Speaking to the official WSBK press, Haslam talks about what he needs to be successful.

Leon Haslam says: "I need to win," declared Haslam. "I need to win a championship; I need to win as many races as I can. If I can get the most out of this BMW, I’m pretty confident we can achieve it."

Haslam recently wrapped up five days of superbike testing aboard the BMW S1000RR at Jerez and Portugal. The results were encouraging, and Haslam worked with his team on suspension, and tested several new chassis parts.

At the tests, Haslam also tried a new Öhlins front fork on the BMW Superbike, which was initially developed for MotoGP, new brakes and geometry changes.

And although Haslam was happy with the progress of the final tests of 2010 before the 2011 WSBK campaign begins, he knows how competitive the field will be next year.

Leon Haslam says: "Max is going to be super-quick on that Aprilia and Leon Camier alongside him is going to be in his second year now rather than in his maiden year."

"Then you’ve got Johnny Rea, and your new guys like Eugene Laverty and Marco Melandri, who are all on proven bikes and are proven riders themselves and are definitely going to be winning races."

"I could pretty much name probably ten riders that are all going to be competitive, exactly the same as this year."

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