PHOTOGRAPHY BY GOLD & GOOSE
After looking like he may miss out on all the plum rides in World Superbike in 2015, Leon Haslam has been confirmed with the Red Devils Roma Aprilia team, running top-level factory machinery with a revamped engine design on the latest RSV-4 RR.
Haslam has been near the top of Red Devils’ shopping list for some time and after Marco Melandri was confirmed to be heading to MotoGP with Aprilia, Haslam signed the deal at the Milan show last week.
“It has taken a long time sorting and organizing, but it has all come together,” said Haslam, who in now in theoretically one of the best slots possible. “I believe we will be running the same colors as Sylvain and Marco this year and the effort is being run out of the factory, but obviously run by Red Devils, said three time World Superbike race winner Haslam. “I think I am getting two or three Aprilia staff as well, directly into the effort. It is really exciting.”
The only possible unknown for the Aprilia effort is the real world effect of the many technical rule changes for 2015, which will limit horsepower at the top end – always a strong point for the championship-winning RSV-4. “There is the unknown about the engine, because they have homologated a new version, but obviously it will have a lot less horsepower than it has now, but everybody will be in the same situation next year,” said Haslam, who will get his first ride on the new bike at Jerez on 24th November.
“As far as the chassis, electronics and effort Aprilia is putting in, it makes it very interesting. I am so excited and the team is very enthusiastic. This is something I really need and I cannot wait to ride the thing. I think my riding style should suit the Aprilia and they obviously have the thing sorted electronics-wise and chassis-wise. Aerodynamically, and the airbox, it is staying the same so that is a big key thing for power and speed. They are going to be losing some horsepower compared to this year but it is just a question of how much everybody else is going to lose and where we are going to be from that point. Right now the Aprilia has a speed advantage over the rest and we have to wait and see if that remains for next year.”
Haslam had multiple options for 2015, but until now not a factory-backed effort that keeps him in an enviable position of inheriting the 2014 championship-winning slot. A return to the UK was even on at one stage, with a plan to return to WSB in 2016. “I have always had a lot of options for 2015,” confirmed Haslam.” The hardest thing is the whole package. I have been a very well paid rider for a lot of years and I have always had very good opportunities as far as contracts go, so it seems to be that the contract fees have reduced over this last year or two and the manufacturers are not involved as much. BMW has left and a lot of people are pulling out but for me it was always going to be reducing money to get on something competitive, or take on a development ride program with a manufacturer. The other option was always Britain, to develop a bike to come back to worlds the year after. There were always options there, but nothing clear-cut.”
Haslam, understandably, wished to stay in the paddock he has called home since 2009, and claims he always knew which bike he wanted for next year.
“I always wanted to be on the Aprilia but the question was were they going to be in the championship? Were they going to homologate the bike? I have been one of these riders who has always been signed up by September so to go to the last race of the year still not signed up was tough on everyone. I knew there were options there but I did not want to mess people around either. So to get it all sorted and to get the ride I have wanted for a long time is really exciting. The signature was done at the Milan show and it has all come together. We spoke a lot directly with Red Devils even before Aprilia told Red Devils that they were going to continue, and then from Magny Cours onwards Aprilia made their mind up they were going to continue. It is exciting to go into team with a bike that had just won the world championship and a team that is super-excited to have taken over the project. The enthusiasm is a very high level for everyone.”
Haslam should have no shortage of track time before he heads to Australia for the official Dorna tests at PI and then the first round of the year on Sunday 22nd February.
“My first test is at Jerez on the 24th, with everyone else, basically. Then at Aragon and Jerez again in January, so that is six days and a possible eight, depending on how the weather treats us and how the tests go.”
