WorldSBK.com caught up with Red Devils Aprilia rider Leon Haslam at this year’s Motorcycle Live show at the NEC Birmingham. The 31 year old Briton, who is currently on track at Jerez for first test with the Italian squad and aboard the RSV4 machine, is very confident on his chances for the upcoming season.

Late announcing the deal with Aprilia for next year on paper things are looking really positive
“I can’t wait, it’s been a tough 2 seasons and I wish the first race was tomorrow. I get to ride the bike for the 1st time at the test in Jerez, it’s a new team, new staff, they’re really excited at the prospect of taking over as the official Aprilia team in WSBK, and me too, getting on the championship winning bike as such. I can’t wait.”

Never outside of the top ten in all the full seasons that you have raced in WSBK, so close to winning it with Suzuki after an epic year long fight, do you feel any pressure ahead of the new season given the successes of Aprilia in recent years?
I’m looking at it as ‘this is my year’, I took on the BMW project which was definitely a development year and we got in the top 5 from not being in the top ten, the Honda was a couple of bad years with injury so for me it feels like a lifetime since I’ve been competitive. I’m used to racing and beating the guys that are winning World Championships over the last couple of years so I hope with Aprilia I can get back there. I’ve never been with a bike or a team that has the status that Aprilia has so for sure it’s pressure but pressure that I invite and I can’t wait to take it on.

You’ve ridden on track against the bike so you know the strengths and possibly the weaknesses it has, what do you think will be the biggest advantage now that you are on the Aprilia?
“In past years it’s always had a speed advantage, they seem to have a stable electronics package which is something I’ve struggled with in recent years. There’s still a question on how fast the bike can be with the new rules, but everything else is the same, chassis, electronics etc. so for me that’s what I am looking forward to.”

Finally Leon, lots of talk and speculation as to who will join you on the 2nd Red Devils machine. Who would you like it to be?
“There’s been a lot of names mentioned, a lot of young Moto2 guys, possibly of Michel Fabrizio, who has raced and made the podium with the team in the past. From my perspective the faster the team mate the better, someone like Michel I think would be a good asset to the team because he knows the team, has ran at the front with the team and he knows the Aprilia. I partnered with him at the end of 2013 on the Honda, we get on, so we could be competitive together.”