AIRWAVES DUCATI RESUME TITLE CHASE AT CROFT
Airwaves Ducati head to the 2.17 mile Croft circuit in North
Yorkshire this weekend, for round 10 of the Bennetts British
Superbike Championship. Having tested there earlier in the
season, the riders will be using the progress made to perform
at their best on the fast straights and tight hairpin’s.
The team has enjoyed a 3 week break from racing following
an unusual weekend at Mallory Park, when the riders had limited
practice and no qualifying session prior to the race. From
3rd place on the grid Leon achieved a 3rd and 2nd place, whilst
Greg came 5th and 7th having started 4th.
With the championship entering its final stages, both Airwaves
Ducati riders are looking to secure valuable championship
points at Croft this weekend. Leon Haslam enjoyed a sensational
victory there last year, when he closed down a 9 second gap
on Karl Harris to take his first win of the season. Greg also
had a successful weekend recording two 3rd places.
Leon stated after the last round that he was looking forward
to moving onto some of his favourite circuits towards the
end of the season. “I have really good memories from
Croft last year, it was one of my best races of the season
and I am looking forward to trying to repeat that performance
this weekend. I have had a couple of weeks at home relaxing
and then getting back into my normal training routine, which
has been going well. We are coming to a number of tracks that
suit the Ducati now; we have closed the gap on the championship
lead to just 31 points and I am looking forward to gaining
some points back at some of my more favoured tracks over the
next few rounds.”
Greg has spent the break since the last race recovering from
the injury to his ribs that he suffered at Oulton Park. “When
I returned to Spain I found out that I had suffered 2 small
cracks to my ribs. They are still a bit painful at times but
I spent the first week of the break relaxing, I then started
training again and I now feel much better; the injury should
not affect my performance this weekend.” Following a
sun filled few weeks in Spain he has his concerns about the
weather this weekend adding, “We have had rain affected
races for the last two years at Croft but we know we are capable
of performing well there. It is not a difficult track and
we tested there recently with good results. We will have to
see what the weather is going to be like; I am hoping that
it will stay dry and that I can have two good practice sessions
on Friday and then qualify well. If I am able to do that then
I will be confident for a good performance in the races on
Sunday.”
Round 10 at Croft commences on Sunday 12th August.
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