Haslam takes control of BSB title fight as Dixon retires
Full BSB race two results from Assen
Leon Haslam has moved to within touching distance of the 2018 Bennetts British Superbike title thanks to a double victory at Assen coupled with Jake Dixon’s retirement from race two.
Full BSB race two results from Assen
Leon Haslam has moved to within touching distance of the 2018 Bennetts British Superbike title thanks to a double victory at Assen coupled with Jake Dixon’s retirement from race two.
In a frantic start to the race and an opening-lap safety car, Haslam found himself down in fifth place with main title rival Dixon ahead in second place tucked in behind Peter Hickman.
But disaster struck for the RAF Regular & Reserves Kawasaki rider on lap 10 when his ZX-10RR suffered a terminal technical issue which forced him out of the race. It provided Haslam timely momentum to climb up the order moving up to second place at the end of lap 13 diving up the inside of Hickman.
Haslam set his sights on leader Josh Brookes, who passed Hickman at mid-race distance, with four laps to go and reeled in the 2015 BSB champion’s one-second lead with lap record pace. At the start of lap 16, Haslam dived up the inside of Brookes into Turn 1 to take the lead before skating clear to cap a dominant double.
The JG Speedfit Kawasaki rider now leads the BSB championship by 61 points, with a maximum of 75 points available at the triple-header Brands Hatch finale, meaning he needs just 14 points to seal a maiden title before returning to the World Superbike championship in 2019.
With Brookes having to settle for second place, it means he mathematically can’t fight for the BSB title in the final round despite moving up to third place in the riders’ championship in Assen.
Hickman completed the podium for Smiths Racing BMW comfortably ahead of Glenn Irwin in fourth place for Be Wiser Ducati, who was involved in the nasty first-lap incident which triggered the safety car.
Coming out of the final chicane a multiple-rider clash resulted in Dan Linfoot being accidently hit by Irwin’s Ducati while Tommy Bridewell clattered into Linfoot’s stricken Honda. Linfoot was taken to hospital with suspected pelvis injuries sustained in the crash.
Following a safety car restart, Tarran Mackenzie crashed while exiting the final chicane, high-siding on a cold tyre, and was lucky to avoid the oncoming riders sliding across the Assen circuit.
With Mackenzie out Richard Cooper used his lightning start to secure fifth place for Buildbase Suzuki ahead of Be Wiser Ducati’s Andrew Irwin.
Bradley Ray recovered from a frustrating Assen opener to take seventh place for Buildbase Suzuki just in front of Anvil Hire Yamaha’s James Ellison.
Danny Buchan claimed ninth for FS-3 Racing Kawasaki ahead of Christian Iddon (Tyco BMW) with Jason O’Halloran recovering to 11th for Honda having been pushed off track in the opening lap incident.
Dean Harrison impressed in the difficult race to take 12th place ahead of Sylvain Barrier, Fraser Rogers and Luke Mossey who rounded out the points places.
