Two-time Suzuka Eight-Hours winnner Leon Haslam has been called up to join the factory Kawasaki team at this year’s event and will partner Akira Yanagawa and Kazuki Watanabe in the team while Jonathan Rea, who is also a multiple winner, concentrates on his second World Superbike crown.
Haslam took victory with Ten Kate Honda WSBK team-mate Michael Van Der Mark in 2013 and 2014 while riding for the MuSASHi RT HARC-PRO team. In 2013, Dutchman Van Der Mark was a rookie and Haslam was still struggling with the leg he broke at Assen.
“It’s a big honour, as always. It’s the factory team and there are several tests planned at Suzuka and also at Kawasaki’s Autopolis test track. I don’t believe Kawasaki have ever had a non-Japanese rider in their works team so that is an even bigger honour,” said Haslam, speaking to bikesportnews.com.
“For me, Suzuka is a massive event as it is for all the factories. Winning it the past two times with Honda was huge. Hopefully, we can do the business with JG Speedfit Kawasaki in Britain and then also in Japan too.
“It gives me a busy schedule from April to July with the testing in Japan but I can’t wait for it.”
Kawasaki are not the only factory putting in their best as it is believed that Yamaha will run two additional factory teams alongside the main which will more than likely see the return of Bradley Smith and Pol Espargaro.
