Henny Ray Abrams | September 28, 2010
World Superbike Championship runner-up Leon Haslam will move from the financially struggling Alstare Suzuki team to BMW Motorrad for the 2011 season.The Belgium-based Suzuki team had earlier released Haslam from his contract, paving the way for the 27-year-old son of “Rocket” Ron Haslam to sign with another team. Haslam had already been in talks with BMW and the announcement that he will join veteran Troy Corser in a two-rider team on the BMW S 1000 RR was made this morning.”I’ve watched the progress of the BMW S1000RR in the past two seasons and the almost constant improvement of the machine has been very impressive,” Haslam said in a team press release. “I’m very much looking forward to riding the machine and experiencing for myself what I’ve been watching. The team has shown the potential to win and the team has the factory support required so I’m hopeful that I can add the extra little bit that is needed to win. I’m really grateful to BMW for showing such faith in me and patience during difficult times and we’re looking forward together now for a successful 2011.”In his 82-race World Superbike career, Haslam has three wins, nine seconds, and seven thirds. He’s assured of finishing second in this year’s championship behind Alitalia Aprilia’s Max Biaggi, who clinched the 2010 crown last weekend in Italy.The Alstare team announced recently that they will continue to work Suzuki, but today came news that it will be a one-rider team. The announcement of that rider will be made on Oct. 2, the Saturday evening of the final race of the season at Magny-Cours, France. Among the riders throwing his hat in the ring will be Spaniard Ruben Xaus, who Haslam replaces at BMW.
Henny Ray Abrams | Contributing Editor
Abrams is the longest-serving contributor at Cycle News. Over the course of his 35-some years of writing and shooting photos, he’s covered events from MotoGP to the Motocross World Championship - and everything in between.
