Haslam: Weight thing is a load of c**p!

Leon Haslam has described Ducati's weight penalty as 'a load of crap' after the Honda rider claimed it will make no difference to their performance whatsoever.

Much has been said about the decision to raise the base weight of the Ducati from 165kg to 175kg, with GSE Racing, who run the championship leading Airwaves machine, threatening to pull out ahead of the Donington Park round last month.

Although the decision to raise the base weight was delayed fully until this round, rival Haslam insists that, because the Ducati's post-race weight is often over 175kg, it won't make any difference to their dominant form so far this year.

"In all fairness, that weight thing is a load of crap," he told Crash.net Radio. "If you actually look at the weight, they haven't added anything between the rounds because if you weigh the bike at the end of the race, it'll be the same weight as it was at Donington Park and at the first round at Thruxton."

With that in mind, Haslam is safe in the knowledge that Ducati have merely produced the bike to beat this year and that it is his aim to ensure Honda can start overhauling them at the end of the year, weight or no weight.

"The weight thing doesn't really matter and the Ducati is going really strongly, so it is the bike to beat. But we are doing all we can to get the bike good and we are getting better and better, so I am looking forward to getting on that top step."

Haslam, meanwhile, is feeling confident ahead of the two races at Snetterton after qualifying fourth on the grid in the rain interrupted session. Competing on a circuit that has served Honda well in the past, Haslam believes he is more than capable to beating Ducati this weekend.

"It is always nice to get pole position, but it is still the front row and we are on the inside for the first corner now too. We have been feeling pretty confident this weekend.

"Normally it is a Honda track here and the HM Plant Honda was really fast last year, especially compared to the Ducati. This year is a bit more of a level playing field, but this track does suit the Honda really well, so I have been looking forward to this round all season."