Haslam is hoping for a good second half

LEON Haslam goes into the second half of the World Superbike season confident of continued improvement with his home race at Donington Park only three weeks away.

The Smalley racer endured the most frustrating time of his campaign at Salt Lake City last week.

But as the series returns to Europe – the next round takes place at Misano, Italy, in a fortnight's time – Haslam believes his Stiggy Honda team are rapidly coming to terms with the demands of competing in the top flight.

Haslam struggled to a 10th place finish in the opening race at Salt Lake's Miller Park then suffered a last-lap crash on his second outing as he battled for a podium position.

Celebrating his 26th birthday on race day, he suffered handling problems and excessive tyre wear in the opener but made a big improvement before he crashed – fortunately without injury – with less than half a lap to go of the second race.

Haslam's lack of track knowledge proved to be the key factor in his disappointing points haul.

"By the second race of the weekend, we were finally on the pace and that's something we have to live with," said Haslam.

"We're arriving at circuits without any data from previous visits and this was my first time at Miller too, which didn't help either.

"I was never really comfortable in the opening race and struggled with front end chatter from the machine and, rarely for us, the tyre was really worn which probably confirms that we weren't as prepared as we have been in previous rounds."

Haslam, who qualified in a third row, 12th place grid position, added: "The second race crash ended a disappointing day.

I should've been third but clipped the kerb on the inside of an uphill left-hander and the front wheel tucked under.

"But, the package felt much, much better in the second race so it gives us lots of hope for the second half of the season."