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Pocket Rocket Leon Haslam, son of Rocket Ron Haslam, is a well known World Superbike rider. He was born on 31st May 1983 in Smalley, Derbyshire.

At the age of 12, Leon claims his first British title when he becomes National Young Motocross Champion in 1995.

He gains the same title the following year however, after two bad falls he decides to make the move from motorcross to road racing.

At only 14 years of age, Leon was limited to scooter racing, as a progression in his sporting career. He went on to win the championship with seven out of nine race wins.

In 1998 he received the MCN magazine's award for Young Rider of the Year after joining the British Super Cup on a RS125 Honda and breaking many records including the youngest ever rider to win a British Race.

1999 saw Leon's second year in the British 125cc class. He had yet another great season, winning the under 23 British Championship, coming 4th in the Spanish Championship and making his World Championship debut.

Following in his fathers footsteps, Leon made his debut in the Grand Prix 125cc class with GP newcomers Italjet Racing. He was the first British rider in 125 GP's since Darren Barton in 1996. He finished 17th in the championship with three 1st places, four pole positions and four fastest laps.

In 2001 he was the youngest ever rider to compete in the 500cc World Championship.

Leon stayed in Grand Prix for a second year, on a 250cc with the Cibartel Honda team and finished 19th in the world.

Returning to the UK in 2003, Leon joined the Renegade Ducati team in the Supersport 600. He also competed in three World Superbike rounds, never once finishing outside the top 7.

Leon competes alongside Noriyuki Haga in a full season of the World Superbike Championship, in 2004, with Renegade Ducati. He was awarded Rookie of the Year 2004 after finishing 8th overall in the Championship.

In 2005 Leon raced with the Airwaves sponsored GSE Ducati team. He finished 4th in the championship behind Lavilla, Kiyonari and Rutter. Leon stayed with the Ducati for a second season with teammate Gregorio Lavilla.

He took the fight for the title all the way to the last race of the 2006 season at Brands Hatch. It was a wet race where Leon, Lavilla and Kiyonari all had a chance to win. The first race was stopped after a heavy crash by Shane "Shakey" Byrne, with Leon lying in second place. A first place finsh in the second race wasn't enough to win the title however, he did receive a £50,000 Audi convertible for scoring the most points in the Audi pole position competition.

The Pocket Rocket currently lies 4th in the 2007 championship in his third season with the Airwaves Ducati team.

• Leon Haslam
• Pocket Rocket

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County:  Derbyshire

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