Leon Haslam maintained his record of winning a race every year at Cadwell Park with a dominant performance in the ninth round of the Bennetts British Superbike Championship as he won both races to move into third place in the title chase.

The HM Plant Honda rider had to work hard for his success, with pole starting Rizla Suzuki rider Tom Sykes making the early running in each of the races before being taken by the hard charging Haslam at Park corner after half a dozen laps.

“The weekend didn't start great here for me,” reflected Haslam. “I had a heavy crash in practice then we had a wet session and qualifying didn't go according to plan and I was fourth and a second row start.”

The Derbyshire rider overcame that with a rapid get-away to pile on the pressure, and, on his Louth based team’s local circuit, Haslam had everything going his way when it mattered most in the races.

“My bike worked like a dream and to get the first double win of the year for the team is great and I think it might be the first time that they have taken the double here at their local circuit.

“We had a bit of bad luck at the start of this year and I did lack a bit of confidence but the team have worked hard and the bike has increased ten-fold now and we are back to winning ways," enthused a confident Haslam.

Sykes took some consolation for finishing second in each of the races as he moved into second place in the rankings at the expense of Cal Crutchlow who slipped into fourth overall, behind Haslam after a difficult day at the races.

In the opener, the Coventry rider complained of a front wheel vibration, which slowed him into fifth place but after a determined start to the delayed second race, he tumbled at Hall Bend, but managed to wrestle his Honda back on track and in a damage limitation rider salvage three points with a distant thirteenth place.

Shane Byrne maintained his 110 points advantage, as he heads towards taking the title for a second time, with a pair of third placings. “We have struggled a bit here but if struggling is two third places then that's not bad at all. We are still leading the championship and that's all that matters,” said the Airwaves Ducati rider.

His team-mate Leon Camier was fourth in each of the races, while Michael Rutter, sixth adrift of Crutchlow in the opener, was fifth next time out on the North West 200 Ducati.

John Laverty defied the pain of broken ribs and ligament damage in his knee and neck to race his Buildbase NW200 Ducati into second and first placings to enhance his lead in the Daily Star Cup.  Gary Mason had won the opener on the Quay Garage Honda but crashed spectacularly out of the second.

Results – round nine, Bennetts British Superbike Championship

Race one – 18 laps

1. Leon Haslam (HM Plant Honda) 26m 42.195secs

2. Tom Sykes (Rizla Suzuki) +0.551s

3. Shane Byrne (Airwaves Ducati) +8.819s

4. Leon Camier (Airwaves Ducati) +11.981s

5. Cal Crutchlow (HM Plant Honda) +18.970s

6. Michael Rutter (North West 200 Ducati) +19.482s

7. Simon Andrews (Lloyds British Yamaha) +22.094s

8. Michael Laverty (Relentless Suzuki by TAS) +26.571s

9. Atsushi Watanabe (Rizla Suzuki) +33.816s

10. Gary Mason (Quay Garage Honda) +34.606s

Race two – 15 laps

1. Leon Haslam (HM Plant Honda) 22m 11.771secs

2. Tom Sykes (Rizla Suzuki) +0.541s

3. Shane Byrne (Airwaves Ducati) +0.910s

4. Leon Camier (Airwaves Ducati) +1.269s

5. Michael Rutter (North West 200 Ducati) +16.556s

6. Simon Andrews (Lloyds British Yamaha) +23.458s

7. Atsushi Watanabe (Rizla Suzuki) +27.178s

8. Scott Smart (Hawk Kawasaki) +27.375s

9. Michael Laverty (Relentless Suzuki by TAS) +28.549S

10. Karl Harris (Rob Mac Racing Yamaha) +37.426s

Latest championship standings:

1. Shane Byrne (Airwaves Ducati) 364

2. Tom Sykes (Rizla Suzuki) 254

3. Leon Haslam (HM Plant Honda) 249

4. Cal Crutchlow (HM Plant Honda) 236

5. Leon Camier (Airwaves Ducati) 205

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