Haslam set to join 200 club in World Superbike

Leon Haslam is gearing up for a special reason to celebrate at Laguna Seca this weekend because if the rider starts both World Superbike races on Sunday he will break the 200 race mark and draw level with former champion James Toseland.

The British rider, who made his debut in World Superbikes on a wildcard entry for Renegrade Ducati at Brands Hatch in 2003, has started 199 races in the premier class. Assuming Haslam starts both races at the US round he'll move on to 201 and move level with Toseland on the all-time starts list.

Haslam will become just the ninth rider in World Superbike history to join the 200 club, while the top Brit on the list is four-time champion Carl Fogarty who notched up 219 race starts.

After three wildcard entries in 2003, Haslam grabbed a full season race seat on a Ducati the year after, taking his maiden podium that season in the German round. Haslam then switched to British Superbikes for four seasons - finishing runner-up in 2006 and 2008 - before stepping back into World Superbike in 2009.

The Aprilia Racing Team - Red Devils rider currently sits third in the World Superbike championship after eight rounds of the 2015 season with 226 points, 16 points off second-place rider Tom Sykes.

At the season opener at Phillip Island in Australia, the 32-year-old claimed his first World Superbike victory since 2010 when he finished runner-up in the championship to Max Biaggi.