Airwaves Ducati :: 2005 British Superbike Champions

Down to the Wire

The Airwaves Ducati team were given full factory support for the 2006 British Superbike Championship and therefore winter testing saw the team get to grips with their new Ducati 999F06 bikes. After four tests 2005 Champion Gregorio Lavilla and team mate Leon Haslam were both eager to start the season.

Leon finished fourth in the 2005 Championship and was confident of improving on that position in 2006. "I learnt a great deal last season and I am excited about getting back out there and improving on my final championship position. Testing in South Africa and Spain went really well and I am really confident with the new bike and the season ahead; I just want to get started."

A Promising Start to the Season

The first race weekend of the 2006 season at Brands Hatch got off to a promising start with the Airwaves Ducati duo qualifying 1st and 2nd. After winning race one and courageously securing 3rd in a wet second race on slick tyres, Gregorio came away from the weekend with an early lead in the championship. Leon put in a gutsy ride to finish 2nd in race two, but would be hampered by the injury he suffered in his spectacular race one crash for the next three rounds of the championship.

By the half-way point of the season, Gregorio had finished on the podium at every race except for one and Leon recovered from his injury to gain valuable championship points meaning the Airwaves Ducati riders were 1st and 2nd in the championship going into the mid-season break. Following the break however two eventful rounds for the Airwaves Ducati team meant that Greg slipped down the order in the championship to 3rd whilst Leon moved into 2nd, closing the championship lead down to just 5 points by Round 9.

Spectacular Win for Leon at Croft

Round 10 of the British Superbike Championship took the Airwaves Ducati team to Croft in North Yorkshire. With the championship battle entering its final stages, Leon achieved his first win of 2006 in spectacular style. In a wet race two he closed a 9 second gap to take the lead on the final bend from Honda rider Karl Harris. The following round at Cadwell Park saw the Airwaves Ducati riders successfully regain 1st and 2nd in the championship and meant that Leon headed to the penultimate round of the championship with a 15 point advantage.

The lead of the championship changed hands yet again at Silverstone, where the Airwaves Ducati team changed from their distinctive red team colours to black to celebrate the launch of the new Airwaves Black Mint flavour chewing gum. Gregorio Lavilla achieved two second places and Leon Haslam had a day of mixed results, failing to finish the first race but coming 3rd in the second. The British Superbike Championship headed to the final round at Brands Hatch with Gregorio leading on 377 championship points, 1 point ahead of Kiyonari, with Leon only 8 points behind on 368. With a double points header at the season finale the championship could have been anyone's.

GSE Racing 1st, 2nd and 3rd In The Championship

In an action packed and rain interrupted day, the 2006 Bennetts British Superbike Championship came to a dramatic climax at Brands Hatch. After rain forced a re-start, race one was run over 17 laps. An early incident with Harris on the Honda damaged Greg's brake lever causing him to fall at Hawthorn Bend. Leon and Kiyo were switching the top two places between them when Byrne crashed on lap13 resulting in a red flag. As over ¾ of the race had been completed the race was then declared with Kiyo in 1st and Leon 2nd. After more rain, race 2 began with Leon and Kiyo moving to the front. Greg’s bad luck continued as he pulled out of the race on lap 2 due to a technical problem. Leon took the lead on lap 5 knowing that he had to be two places ahead of Kiyo to win the title. However another crash on lap 14 resulted in the second red flag and race declaration of the day. With Leon in 1st and Kiyo 2^nd Leon missed out on the title finishing the 2006 championship in second whilst 2005 champion Lavilla was third.

After the days events Team Manager Colin Wright said, “It has been a great year for the team. Today was not the result we wanted but I am proud of the team. This year we have achieved 11 wins, five 1-2 finishes, 38 podiums, 9 pole positions and hold 6 lap records. Our thanks must go to Darrell Healey and the GSE Group for all their support and our fantastic sponsors Wrigley’s Airwaves, Q8Oils, Dunlop and all the supporting partners who make us such a great team.”