No stranger to the World Superbike paddock, Haslam raced in the WSBK Championship in 2003, 2004 and from 2009 to 2015. In 2015, he finished in fourth position with nine podium finishes and two race wins under his belt before returning to the British Superbike Championship in 2016 for JG Speedfit Kawasaki.
 
The Derbyshire-lad tested the team’s Ninja ZX-10RR at Portimao, Portugal, gelling with the bike and giving the team vital feedback ahead of their maiden season in the Superbike class.
 
Haslam will line-up on the same grid as the Kawasaki Racing Team riders, Jonathan Rea and Tom Sykes who already have seven podium finishes between them after just four races.
 
The news of the wildcard ride comes just a week following the announcement that Leon will once again form part of Kawasaki’s Official ‘Team Green’ line-up for the 2017 Suzuka 8 Hour race.
 
Kawasaki Motors UK Racing co-ordinator, Ross Burridge, said: “While Leon is completely committed to the British Superbike Championship, we’re pleased that our partners in the World Championship can utilise Leon’s experience at the UK round at Donington Park. With his wealth of knowledge of the circuit and his experience on the Ninja ZX10-RR, we’re all confident that Leon can achieve a great result for the Puccetti Racing Team. We wish him the best of luck.”
 
Leon Haslam said: “I’m so excited to be riding at my home World Superbike round for the Puccetti Racing Team. I had a really good test in January in Portugal and was posting quick times from the first time on track. So to take that package to Donington Park and getting to work with the team again is so exciting. I just want to thank the Puccetti team and Kawasaki for the opportunity and hopefully I can give the home crowd something to shout about. It’s great that Mike and the guys at JG Speedfit are supporting our entry too, hopefully we can all enjoy some success together at the British round of the World Superbike Championship to complement our BSB exploits."