Haslam thinking and speaking about his future
The Briton is currently evaluating his option for the upcoming season.
Former WorldSBK runner-up Leon Haslam has had his ups and downs in his first year aboard the factory RSV4 machine of the Aprilia Racing Team – Red Dvils. As the season is drawing to a close, the Englishman is obviously thinking about the future, hoping to secure a competitive ride for the upcoming edition of the FIM Superbike World Championship.
“It is tough. Obviously, I would love to stay with Aprilia for another season. This year, with the homologation, it’s put us on the back foot, but I’m confident with this bike and team that we can do good things. It’s nice to have a lot of other options from other teams, but right now I’m kind of waiting and seeing.
I’m fourth in the championship and the only guy to have won a race this year who is (currently) out of a job. I’m confident there will be something, but I just want to make the right decision and be on something competitive next year.”
Despite the difficulties endured in 2015, Haslam has not lost confidence in his abilities. “I want to be World Superbike Champion. With how to do that, and get the right bike and team to do that, there are a lot of different avenues. Suzuki are planning to come back (with a new bike) in a couple of years’ time and it might mean a year out to come back, or a ride with a satellite team to prove my worth and step back up again. Also, there is the possibility of Aprilia continuing to win it next year. My heart is to win the World Championship. I feel I am riding the best I have ever ridden, I have got over a lot of bad injuries the last few years and, looking at how I am riding this year, I’m not too unpleased and I know I can do a much better job with a few fine tweaks to what we’ve got.”
With the final round currently underway at the Losail International Circuit in Qatar, Haslam knows that a couple of good results could make a difference in his chances for next year. “If I finish with two wins this weekend, it obviously helps for the future. I have been in this championship long enough and I feel I can beat everyone out there; and I believe people can see that with the way that I ride and go about things. Obviously I want to win and finish strongly to give myself the best opportunity for next year, but we will wait and see. We’ve got to be smart about it. To beat the Kawasakis and Ducatis this year, we need something quite good and special. I feel fired up for it. We just need to pin it all down.”
