31 Facts About Leon Haslam

In February 2022, Haslam confirmed he would be racing in British Superbikes for Lee Hardy Racing on a Kawasaki ZX-10RR, whilst the actual sponsor name of the team, VisionTrack, determined later.

Leon Haslam competed in a wild card ride at Assen World Superbikes in April 2022, substituting at short notice for Pedercini Racing.

Leon Haslam won the 2018 British championship at the final event held at Brands Hatch in late October, having previously signed to join the Kawasaki Superbike factory team in World Championship from 2019 as team-mate to Jonathan Rea.

Leon Haslam began racing at an early age and by the time he was in his late teens, he had raced in most of the significant British and international championships.

Leon Haslam is nicknamed 'Pocket Rocket' and is the son of former road-racer 'Rocket Ron' Leon Haslam.

Leon Haslam was first exposed to motorcycle racing as a baby, often travelling with his parents to his dad, Ron Leon Haslam's, races.

Leon Haslam was 1995 and 1996's National Youth Motocross champion, and 1998's MCN Young Rider of the Year after finishing 7th in the British 125cc Championship.

Leon Haslam did an assortment of 125cc races in 1999, but quickly advanced into international racing after that.

Leon Haslam spent the 2000 season with the underprepared Italjet team on their return to the 125cc world championship, then racing a privateer Honda NSR500V in 2001, and a 250cc Honda in 2002.

Leon Haslam was 8th overall with a best of 3rd, finishing as the rookie of the year.

Leon Haslam had an impressive victory in a British Superbike race at Brands Hatch on one of the team's 3 ventures into the series.

Leon Haslam finished 4th overall behind only teammate Lavilla and the two HM Plant Hondas of Ryuichi Kiyonari and Michael Rutter.

Leon Haslam managed to push for the title all the way to the last race of the season at a rain soaked Brands Hatch where Leon, Lavilla and Kiyonari all had a chance to win.

Leon Haslam was running second to Kiyo in the first race when it was stopped after Byrne crashed heavily, and despite storming to victory in the second race, he ended the season in second place and Lavilla was third.

Leon Haslam ultimately finished 3rd, behind Kiyonari and Jonathan Rea's Hondas but ahead of a fading Lavilla.

Leon Haslam was released by Airwaves Ducati for 2008, when they initially withdrew from the series over questions about the legality of the Ducati 1098 under the new BSB tuning rules.

Leon Haslam joined Airwaves' rivals HM Plant Honda, but the Ducati proved to be the faster bike, with Shakey Byrne dominating the championship.

Leon Haslam struggled early in the season and was generally outpaced by younger teammate Cal Crutchlow, and was excluded from race 2 at Oulton Park after a racing incident with Tom Sykes.

Leon Haslam then took a double win at Cadwell Park, despite not starting on the front row.

Leon Haslam made two wild card appearance in the World Superbike Championship at Donington Park and Portimao.

The Dutch Grand Prix at Assen was a very successful weekend as Leon Haslam finished on the podium in both races with a third place in race one and a second place in race two.

Leon Haslam finished the season 6th overall, comfortably the top privateer.

Leon Haslam took his first WSBK pole in the 2010 season opener at Phillip Island.

Leon Haslam then went on to win his first World Superbike race in race one, narrowly beating Michel Fabrizio by 0.004 seconds at the line in the closest finish ever recorded in a World Superbike race.

Leon Haslam was in control of race two until 3 turns from the end he was overtaken by the eventual winner Carlos Checa.

Leon Haslam took two-second places at round 2 in Portugal.

Leon Haslam beat Biaggi in both Silverstone races, to trim Biaggi's championship lead to 60 points.

Leon Haslam made a mistake on lap 7 which dropped him back to 5th place, trying to make his way back up the field going through the Villeneuve esses his engine blew up, this was the Suzuki's first mechanical failure of the year.

On 28 September 2010, Leon Haslam signed a two-year contract with the BMW team to ride in the 2011 Superbike World Championship season, and for the 2013 season he joined Ten Kate Honda Fireblade WSB operating as Team Pata Honda, with Ulsterman Jonny Rea as teammate.

Leon Haslam owns the snooker cue that Peter Ebdon used to win the 2002 World Snooker Championship, and has it framed on his wall.

Leon Haslam enjoys playing poker, pool and golf, and supports Manchester United football club.