Leon Haslam will be back in the Bennetts British Superbike Championship this season, lining up on the BMW M 1000 RR on behalf of the newly-formed ROKiT Haslam Racing team, with the 2018 champion more motivated than ever to claim a second title.
The ‘Pocket Rocket’ enjoyed a strong 2023 Bennetts BSB season under the ROKiT BMW Motorrad banner, ending fifth in the overall Championship standings, as the top BMW contender, and collecting ten podium finishes along the way.
Building on their 2023 success, Haslam and dad, Rocket Ron, have created a new official partnership with former sponsor, ROKiT, for their 2024 championship campaign to compete as ROKiT Haslam Racing BMW Motorrad. The partnership will also include the ROKiT Rookies rider development academy.
Haslam said: “Last year was last minute, with a lot of new elements to get to grips with, so to be so close to the championship and top BMW in the class was amazing. With the learnings we gained, new product this year and additional support from ROKiT and BMW we’re even more motivated going into 2024.
“It’s really exciting to be working direct with Jonathan Kendrick and ROKiT under the newly-formed ROKiT Haslam Racing and great to see the effort that BMW is putting in to racing worldwide. We’re super excited to get the season underway and look forward to challenging for the title in 2024.”
Uwe Geyer, Head of BMW Motorrad Motorsport Marketing said: “We have a long history with Leon that started when he joined our BMW Motorrad Motorsport WorldSBK team back in 2011. It was great to see him competing in the British Superbike Championship with the BMW M 1000 RR in 2023, with convincingly strong performances and we are delighted that Leon will compete again in BSB with the BMW M 1000 RR this year.
“We are grateful for the support that our WorldSBK project’s main sponsor, ROKiT, is providing to the team as this ensures that we have another strong BMW team on the grid fighting for BSB victories. . Leon is in excellent shape and highly motivated and the team gained valuable experience last year, using a 2022 version of the BMW M 1000 RR.
“In 2024, like other teams, they are racing with the latest product and will, of course, benefit from our WorldSBK knowledge and data as part of our racing development programme. Our fingers are crossed for Leon and his team!”
ROKiT co-founder, Jonathan Kendrick, concluded: “I'm really pleased to have partnered with Leon and Ron Haslam to create ROKiT Haslam Racing to compete, with the support of BMW, in the 2024 BSB championship.
“With the help of ‘Rocket Ron’ and ‘Pocket Rocket’ Leon, we’ve learned a great deal during our first year in 2023 as title partner of the ROKiT BMW Motorrad teams in both BSB and WSB. So to welcome 'The Rockets’ to the ROKiT family is perfectly timed to maximise results this year, including the launch of our new range of ROKiT-branded motorcycle products, equipment and accessories, as well as our new e-mopeds, planned for later this year."