Blog de Leon Haslam

Time Off

It's really nice to have a bit of time off. I have been hitting the gym hard and training with my trainer Kirk going to all his circuits classes, spinning and body pump classes. Also been trailing loads. Myself and my Dad have been flying up to Jamie Withams place and then trailing all day.

My Dad has got his licence to fly a light aircraft and I am using my time off to get some flying hours in too so I can get my licence too. at the moment we have a fixed wing microlight but are4 looking at something a bit bigger.

We are going down to Brands Hatch On Saturday to support Steve Brogan Who is riding the HM Plant Honda in replacement of Glen Richards who had a broken leg. I am also riding a classic Honda on a parade lap with the likes of Agostini, its always fun doing things like that.

Sunday night Oli, Brogie and myself are off on a road trip down to Redtread in Spain. We've chucked a couple of bikes and some diving gear in the back of a van so Steve and i can go off enduroing while Oli goes diving and sunbathing. It's really hot out there at the moment so it will be cool to get out of the rain for a while.

06/08/2009 14:17

Brno not so good

It wasn't the weekend I expected, but it happens in racing some weekends just don't go as planned.We had one of those nightmare weekends where whatever could go wrong did really. OK I'm being dramatic but we had a few problem which cost us track time in a couple of the sessions, and at Brno track knowledge is key.

All weekend I just couldn't seem to get my head round certain parts of the circuit. Although the Eybis track day we attended a couple of weeks prior we really needed for set up and testing things on the bike,  Brno is such a technical track I think i need a few more race weekends there. When all is said and done though, I started 17Th on the grid and got a 7Th and a 12Th place, which isn't really that bad, more points in the bag.

We have five weeks off now and its down to some hard training, golfing, trailing, enduro, cycling and sleeping, with a bit of poker thrown in for good measure.It's going to be a busy five weeks.

29/07/2009 11:48

Brno

We had a great test here on the Eybis track day a couple of weeks ago and managed to try a lot of things that over a race weekend we just don't get a chance to try.

I love Brno, always have. I have not raced here since the days when I did GP's and couldn't wait to get back on track. It's a really technical track and you really have to think about things and get set up perfect. The crowd here at Brno are always really good from what I remember.

It's been a couple of busy weeks, with the Brno test then a few days later we went on to Imola for a 2 days test. We have made loads of improvment on the bike and electronics so I am really looking forward to the race, hopefully we can have a similar weekend to Donington.

After this weekend we have nearly five weeks off so it's going to be some hard gym sessions and some hard golfing. We are going to spend a few days at Red Tread, an enduro school in spain, my trainer is coming over to train with us. It's right in the mountains so running and cycling at a higher altitude is even more beneficial. I normally do something everyday day when we are at home but because I've been away so much it will be nice to catch up with some really hard training sessions. Also I have not been playing as much golf as I normally do, I have a few competitions booked in and charity events so i'm looking forward to them.

23/07/2009 11:41

Donington Podium

Well how was that.

I will be honest it didn't come easy, we went back to basics with the set up and turned off all the electronics and went back to a standard clutch. It's not that the electronics make you faster but they make you more consistent. The second race was tough and I was pleased when I crossed the line.

When I was going down Craner Curves and some of my family and friends ran onto the track it hit home on how well I had done. Fabrizio and Shakey put up a good fight but I managed to hold them off. I think it was a tough race for all of us.

In the first race I knew I could run with Biaggi, Fabrizio and Haga but knew Ben was on a faster pace, I suffered with chatter throughout the race and was losing a bit of time in the last two corners, I managed to follow Shakey for a few laps and learnt from him. I was happy with both my starts and it put me in good stead for both races. Getting on the podium was the most important thing for me though as its the best way to say thanks to all my sponsors, friends and family and above all the team who work so hard.

We now have two tests, one in Brno and one in Imola so hopefully that should really make the last part of the season even stronger for us. 

01/07/2009 12:14

Donignton

My home round, its such a great track and I have nearly 200 friends, family and Sponsors here to watch me race, so no pressure. I have done so many laps around this place and know it like the back of my hand, which sometimes is not the best thing as you ride around areas of the track that you might think will be a problem but others are oblivious to.

It's important to me do have a good result as a huge thank you to all my fans and sponsors that support me so well all year, and its always special at your home track.

We have a week at home after this round then at the weekend we go to Goodwood Festival of Speed which is always a great event, there is so much to see and the Ball is fantastic, the last couple of years Lord March ahs hired Cirque de Soliel and Debby Harry to perform, so it's not to be missed. 

26/06/2009 17:51

Misano

It's been a nice couple of weeks, I have been out in Italy for a week now as I had some meetings with sponsors and its been great. The weather has been awesome and it's been really good for my training. Myself and Westy have been running and cycling everyday and in this heat its pretty tough.

The last time I raced Misano it was 04 and the circuit went the other way around so it will be like racing a new circuit, but I'm looking forward to it. Its so hot here today but I think it is forecast to rain really heavy Saturday and Sunday so we should get some excitement this weekend.

Last night we had a press event at Frankie Chili's beach, we played some beach tennis with some pros and some canoeing against some journo's and the FG Sport guys, it was great fun and even better as I won both events over all. I won a huge Sarano Ham which myself and my team will enjoy this weekend.

My team as always have been working so hard this week trying to find some improvements for me so we can really push to be up the front again. I have a feeling there is going to be some good racing.

19/06/2009 11:56

Miller Park USA

Well another weekend of two halves, I know I crashed but I was actually happy with the way I rode and the bike set up for the second race. We had a few problems in the first race race and made a couple of little changes for the second race and it was a massive difference. I felt I was stronger than Johnny on most the track but his bike was so much faster that whenever I passed him he just rode past me back on the the straight. It was frustrating but we still have lots of development to do and I feel confident for the second half of the season.

It's good to be home although we have been away for so long and there is so much to catch up on. I have been back at the gym with my trainer Kirk Gibbons and we have been doing Speed work and interval work the last couple of mornings, trust me when I say I would rather be racing than doing that.

I'm a little stiff from my couple of crashes from Kyalami and Miller so I'm trying to get some physio while I'm home. I go to the Ilse Of Man next week for a charity event and to play some golf with some sponsors, I'm looking forward to it, then I go to Italy to see Oral engineering, the guys that develop my engines to try and help with the development for Misano.

Not so quiet after all, but then it never is. After Misano and Donington we have a few weeks off to try and catch up on some training and trailing.

04/06/2009 13:13

Miller Park USA

It's been a week of pain thresholds for me on the run up to Miller. First my crash in Kyalami was pretty fast, 110 MPH to be exact, I'm OK just a little stiff and my bike was not so good, the boys have had their work cut out for them getting me another ready for this weekend. I've had a few massages to try and loosen up a bit. Then after the last race Oli and I spent a couple of days on a nature reserve 40 minutes from Kyalami, it was amazing but again I had my pain boundaries tested. At the Rhino and Lion nature reserve then had a breading program for Lions and Tigers both normal and white and we were able to go and interact with some of the cubs, the most playful were the 2 month old  tigers, playful with very sharp teeth and claws, you really get the sense of power when they scratch your back or bite your leg and we both walked away with a few permanent scares.

Then it was off to the USA for our mini road trip. We picked up our RV and drove down to Las Vegas where I had a tattoo appointment with Hart and Huntington, Cary Harts place. It's a design that I have wanted for a couple of years with my families and Oli's initials and space for future kids. Trust me when I say that I have never felt pain like it and I won't be rushing to get anymore done ,but it was worth it.

30/05/2009 19:47

Kyalami

Headlines, Leon Haslam Mauled by lion, OK so it was a 4 month old but it still had sharp teeth. I think I did wind it up and later he came with two friends. At one point I had 3 baby cubs trying to play with each other whilst balancing on my head. We had a couple of days free when we got to South Africe so went had a little trip to the Lion Park near the track. It was great. Now we are at the track and looking forward to the race. Its a fantastic place and the type of track I like to race.
Its very hot and with the altitude of the track (1350 metres above sea level) its makes things a little more difficult, this is where the training pays off. I'm confident for a couple of good results this weekend, then off to the USA for a bit of a holiday with Oli and a bit more Racing.

15/05/2009 15:17

MONZA

I'm looking forward to racing Monza. I raced here in 2004 and got two good results. It's such a fast track but so historic. as you walk around you can see some of the old backing from when it used to be an oval. Its so steep and it looks like its made from pebble dash.

Many of the teams have been testing here already which puts them at a slight advantage but I'll just go out and do my thing  so it should all be ok.

I have had a busy couple of weeks training and trailing since Assen and I went to one of the BSB rounds in Oulton. again it was really good to see everyone and see some really good racing, It was so cold there though and i'm definately happy to be at Monza.

08/05/2009 12:24

ASSEN

Wow, what a weekend. I loved racing Assen before but even more now. Assen has always held special memories for me as my uncle Terry was killed there racing sidecars many years ago so to get a good result there is even better.  They where 2 fantastic races, I have watched them back on TV and I can see it from a fans perspective and they were both very exciting. I felt I could have challenged for the win in both but made a couple of little mistakes in race 1 and I couldn't pass Fabrizio in race 2, but I'm still really happy with 2ND and 3rd. My team have all worked so hard so its all credit to them. It was great to get the ferry back home yesterday because there was loads of supporters on there too so I got a good chance to chat with some of them.

It's back to the hard part of racing now, being in the gym everyday. Its hard work and my training in sure will put me through my paces and get me screaming but its worth it when you get results like that, the hard work makes the victory sweeter. 

28/04/2009 10:29

Time Off and Assen

Hi all. I have had a nice couple weeks at home, the weather believe it or not as been really good in the UK which is unheard of normally we can't do anything outside as its raining all the time. The first part of the season we were away from home so much and although I trained everyday I was not with my trainer Kirk so I have had a good couple of weeks really working hard in the gym, We have been doing cardio circuits, weights, running, boxing and spin classes in the mornings and then trailing most afternoons, golfing  or downhill mountain biking so its nice to have a weekend off and come racing.

Also I have had a couple of shop open days to attend which were fun, I really like to get a chance to meet the supporters in person and have a real chat with them.

When I get back from assen I am playing golf with Colin Edwards and a couple of friends, I've not seen Colin for a while so it will be great to catch up with him.  I also have a supporter who him and his Dad come on my parents race school at Donington Park, its his 18th birthday next week and myself and his Dad have organised to go and suprise him at his party,

First things first I need to race Assen, I can't wait it such a great circuit to race and I have some great memories from here. I have not raced the new section yet but last night I had a walk round the track and it still looks awesome.

For more info on waht i've been up to and future events go to my site www.leonhaslam.com and for any info on the race school go to www.haslamraceschool.com

24/04/2009 11:53

Great results

Well I came to Valencia 5th in the Chanpionship, I will be leaving Valencia 5th in the Championship and I had two 5th places, talk about consistant. I struggled a little with set up this weekend and we had a few issues with the bike but all in all I was very pleased with the outcome.

It was nice to have Frank from Eybis here at this race to come and congratulate me, I am very happy to have the support of Eybis now and I hope we can continue getting good results for them and all the team and sponsors.

I am looking forward to Assen although the last time i raced there in 2004 it was the old circuit, so I am really looking forward to racing at the new one. 

Now it is time for home and back to the gym 2 times a day with my trainer Kirk Gibbons, This keeps me strong in body and in mind, but no lie it's very hard.

05/04/2009 18:36

Hello from Valencia

Hello to everyone from sunny Valencia. Myself and my team arrived here a couple of days ago from our test in rainy Almeria so it was a nice surise to get some sunshine. I have been out for a session today and finised up 11th. I am happy though as we managed to try different settings and have a good direction for Qualifying this afternoon.

Out test in almeria went really well, although the weather was not so good, very cold and wet we had a plan on things to try and test and we managed to get all through our list so myself and the team where very happy.

Hopefully we will have a good weekend this weekend. I love Valencia as a track, it's a lot of fun to race, also having John Hopkins as a new team mate is very exciting and having Eybis on board as a new Sponsor makes things very exciting. We are looking to a good weekend but a great year.

Please go to my site for updated videos and pictures, latest news and press realeses.

www.leonhaslam.com

03/04/2009 12:48

HASLAM AND EYBIS JOIN FORCES FROM VALENCIA

LEON HASLAM will be backed by leading European track event specialists EYBIS.com from this weekend’s third round of the World Superbike Championship at Valencia in Spain.

31/03/2009 15:39