Leon Haslam returns to 2022 BSB grid with Lee Hardy Kawasaki

Leon Haslam has confirmed he will return to the British Superbike Championship this season after sealing a deal to join the Lee Hardy Kawasaki team.

One of the most successful BSB riders of all-time, Haslam returns to the series he dominated on the way to the title in 2018 in a move that will see him renew his ties with the Japanese manufacturer after a spell in the WorldSBK Championship.

Haslam has long been linked with a switch back to BSB after losing his berth in the factory Honda outfit at the end of the 2021 WorldSBK season. He becomes the 31st rider confirmed to a bumper 2022 BSB grid.

Son of GP favourite Ron Haslam, Leon has spent much of his career switching between BSB and WorldSBK, enjoying significant success in both.

Making his Superbike debut in 2003, Haslam was a three-time BSB runner-up before finally landing the title in 2018 in dominant fashion with 15 victories. He is also a five-time race winner in WorldSBK and was runner-up with Suzuki in 2010, while he has previously competed on Ducati, Honda, BMW, Aprilia and Kawasaki at international level.

“I’m super excited to be back in the British Championship and also to be back with Kawasaki, especially with the link to my Kawasaki-backed Affinity Sports Academy team. It’s been a tough few years racing abroad so it’s going to be great back in front of my home crowd once again! 

I know it’s going to be a tough year against these guys but I’m looking forward to the challenge and have a lot of faith in the team around me.”

Replacing Ryan Vickers in the single-bike Lee Hardy Racing squad, the eponymous manager is excited to take Haslam on four years after the team pushed him closest for the title with its then-rider Jake Dixon.

“I am very excited to have signed an agreement with Leon to contest the 2022 British Superbike Championship.  Leon has proved what an asset he can be to a team, and we look forward to building a strong partnership together.  

“We have both had amazing success with the Kawasaki brand, Leon last won the championship in 2018 with them and in that same year the Lee Hardy Racing team finished second to him also on Ninja machinery. We both have forged a great alliance with Kawasaki, and I see this as an incredible opportunity to fight for the championship again.”

Since his BSB debut in 2003, Haslam has notched up 46 wins in the domestic series.