The World Superbike Championship is set for Round 10 this weekend, as the championship rolls into Silverstone. And for Suzuki Alstare’s Leon Haslam it his home race. And in essence, it is a home race for Frenchman Sylvan Guintoli who has lived in England for many years and has an English wife. Both Leon and Sylvan have raced at Silverstone before, both in the British Superbike Championship, however it will be their first time attacking the new Grand Prix circuit in anger.
Speaking about the new circuit , Haslam said “I was at the launch of the new track at Silverstone earlier this year and it’s very different to what it was before. It seems to be a fast and flowing high-speed track and I’m sure the racing is going to be very close.”
Even though this is his home race, and the only time the WSB Championship comes to the UK, Haslam is not putting any extra pressure on himself. “I am looking forward to the weekend and although some might say that there is extra pressure on me to do well in front of my home fans, I do not see it that way. I want to do well at all tracks and although I’d obviously like to do well at Silverstone, my main concern will be to finish in front of Max Biaggi in both races. The ideal situation would be for me to win both races and the other six Brits to finish ahead of Max!”
Guintoli is looking forward to embracing the challenge of, what he feels, is his home race. “It’s always good to race at home and because I have been in England so long, I feel like it is my home, which in fact it is because I live here! I have raced at Silverstone before, but now the track is very different and all of us will have to learn the track before we can really charge.” And this is something Sylvan feels he can achive to full effect.
“Normally, I am quite good at learning tracks, so hopefully things will go well for me in practice and qualifying, so that I can do a good Superpole and end up with a good grid position. If I do that, I have a very good chance of giving my ‘home’ fans and friends something to shout about.”
