Haslam undergoing cryotherapy in race to be fit

Pata Honda's Leon Haslam is doing everything he can to make sure he can ride at this weekend's Donington Park World Superbike round including intense physio and cryotherapy sessions on his broken leg.

The gritty Derbyshire man underwent surgery following his Assen crash and has spent the last three weeks trying to be ready to ride this weekend. He started cryotherapy, which uses very cold temperatures to promote cell survival, decrease inflammation and promote vasoconstriction. Supersport teamster Michael van der Mark is undergoing the same process for his broken foot.

"I am struggling with knee movement but I have a few more days of working on that. I know Donington well and from Assen onwards the team have made big steps with the bike. Jonathan has been speaking about how much better it is, so I am keen to get back on it," said Haslam, who will not want to disappoint his home fans.

"I had never missed an SBK race before in my life. I have had two broken legs, a collarbone, broken ankles in previous seasons and still been able to race, so it has been tough to take not racing in the past two rounds. If I can race I am definitely going to give it a go. 

"From a positive side I will not have to learn Donington, there are not too many left-handers, which is going to be the issue with my knee. The biggest factors will be bending my knee enough and changing gears.”

By WSBK desk

Image by Honda Racing