Haslam joins Renegade squad

Leon Haslam has turned his back on Grand Prix to return to British racing for 2003.

He’ll race a Ducati 748 for Mark Griffith’s Renegade Racing squad in the British Supersport championship, alongside Renegade’s BSB pairing of Sean Emmett and Michael Rutter.

Haslam told MCN: ” Renegade is one of the best teams in Britain and who knows what might happen if I do well?

” I could move to a superbike and then MotoGP. Four-strokes are the future and I need to be on one – and winning. ”

” I had a couple of options to stay in 250s, but without factory bikes there was no chance of winning races. I’d love to have stayed, but I didn’t want another unsuccessful year. ”

Haslam rode for the Spanish-based BQR team, but his produciton Honda was hopelessly outclassed.

He only finished four races, with a best place of seventh in Portugal.