Sykes continues winning form

Added on Monday, August 11th, 2008 by Carole Nash Editor | No Comments

Sykes claimed his third win from three BSB starts.

That was a perfect race for me it was just a great feeling.

Tom Sykes kept up his winning form with victory at Knockhill to maintain third position in the British Superbikes Championship.

The Rizla Suzuki rider claimed victory by more than three seconds ahead of championship leader Shane Byrne in the opening race to back up his double victory in the previous round at Oulton Park.

The Huddersfield-born rider, who represented Britain as a wildcard in last week’s World Superbikes championship at Brands Hatch, took part in an enthralling battle with NW Ducati rider Michael Rutter in the opening stages. After numerous attempts to take the lead, Sykes’ perseverance paid off on lap nine and the 22-year-old maintained his speed to claim the chequered flag.

Sykes, who is now just eight points behind Honda’s Cal Crutchlow, described the result as the “perfect race”.

“That was a perfect race for me it was just a great feeling, said Sykes. “The Rizla Suzuki team have done a fantastic job and I am at my happiest when I am fastest.

“I am shell shocked to be honest, three in a row is a real achievement and I just need to keep reeling them off now. I was feeling confident after warm up and I knew we would have a good setup for the race.

“I had a great dice with Michael Rutter, when I got ahead of him he came back aggressively but I took him and just got my head down.”

In race two, Leon Haslam claimed his second win of the season in dramatic fashion.

After being red-flagged initially due to a crash involving Kenny Gilbertson, David Johnson and Tom Grant, the race was reduced to just 20 laps before Byrne crashed out on lap 15.

That prompted race officials to wave the red flags once again and the race was declared as a result, with Haslam taking first ahead of Rutter and Karl Harris.

British Superbike Championship, Knockhill, race one result:

1. Tom Sykes (Rizla Suzuki)
2. Shane Byrne (Airwaves Ducati) +3.093s
3. James Ellison (Hydrex Bike Animal Honda) +3.479s
4. Michael Rutter (North West 200 Ducati) +5.752s
5. Leon Camier (Airwaves Ducati) +9.345s
6. Michael Laverty (Relentless Suzuki by TAS) +9.461s
7. Karl Harris (Rob Mac Racing Yamaha) +19.051s
8. Simon Andrews (Lloyds British Yamaha) +36.055s
9. Tristan Palmer (TENA for Men Honda) +39.097s
10. Gary Mason (Quay Garage Honda) +40.021s

British Superbike Championship, Knockhill, Race 2 results:

1. Leon Haslam (HM Plant Honda)
2. Michael Rutter (North West 200 Ducati) +3.214s
3. Karl Harris (Rob Mac Racing Yamaha) +3.541s
4. Tom Sykes (Rizla Suzuki) +3.680s
5. James Ellison (Hydrex Bike Animal Honda) +6.591s
6. Simon Andrews (Lloyds British Yamaha) +15.876s
7. Cal Crutchlow (HM Plant Honda) +16.539s
8. Leon Camier (Airwaves Ducati) +18.608s
9. Billy McConnell (MSS Discovery Kawasaki) +23.428s
10. Chris Burns (STP MV Augusta) +26.439s
British Superbike Championship standings after Knockhill:

1. Shane Byrne (Airwaves Ducati) 332
2. Cal Crutchlow (HM Plant Honda) 222
3. Tom Sykes (Rizla Suzuki) 214
4. Leon Haslam (HM Plant Honda) 199
5. Leon Camier (Airwaves Ducati) 179

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