Haslam’s waiting game pays with Aprilia WSB ride

After looking like he may miss out on all the plum rides in WSB 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 colours 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 WSB 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.”