The son of the legendary ‘Rocket' Ron Haslam is well aware, however, that even though 2006 and 2007 champion Ryuichi Kiyonari, ex-Airwaves team-mate – and 2005 title-winner – Gregorio Lavilla and last year's runner-up Jonny Rea have all departed the fray for the international scene, his task of lifting the laurels will be complicated by a number of other riders who all have their sights set on doing precisely the same thing – beginning with his new team-mate Cal Crutchlow.
“I've known Cal for many years now,” he remarked. “He's a mega-top rider whose progression in Superbikes got stronger and stronger all through last year. He had already proven himself to be a world-class runner in Supersport, so I think he's going to be up there as a title contender. It's good to have a competitive team-mate because it makes you push that little bit harder.
“I think ‘Shakey' Byrne is going to be competitive too, purely because the Ducati is going to be really strong, with 20bhp and 200cc more than last year. As a package and a team I know they're one of the best, and him being back on a Ducati – with which he won the title a few years ago – means he's going to be a contender. On top of that you've got Rizla Suzuki with the Japanese champion coming over, and Tom Sykes who has proven himself to be a top runner as well.”
As to his ultimate target for the challenge that lies ahead, though, there is no doubt. If Haslam is to accomplish his stated goal of returning to World Superbikes – a championship he last graced in 2004 – there is only one way to go.
“For me it's more about the year after and getting back to World Superbikes with Honda in a factory team,” the Derbyshire ace asserted. “It's all about being in a factory team that's capable of winning, and not only have they [HM Plant] given me the opportunity this year to do some world rounds and for maybe the year after to do the full world championship, they've also given me the opportunity to try and win the British championship first. Third time lucky as they say, so hopefully we can do it.
