Sykes signs Yamaha WSB deal
Added on Thursday, September 11th, 2008 by Carole Nash Editor | No Comments
Sykes' wild-card form has attracted the attention of Yamaha.
Tom Sykes has signed a deal with Yamaha to ride in the World Superbike championship next season.
The Huddersfield-born rider will quit British Superbikes at the end of the season to take up a WSB ride with the Yamaha factory team as a replacement for Japanese rider Noriyuki Haga, who is expected to move to the Ducati Xerox team for 2009.
Sykes, who has shown outstanding form in the British Superbike Championship in recent weeks, attracted the attention of WSB team managers after two superb wildcard appearances in the World Superbikes rounds at Brands Hatch and Donington, the latter of which producing a second-place finish in race one for the Rizla Suzuki rider.
A month earlier, Sykes finished seventh at Brands Hatch despite suffering a technical problem which prematurely ended his podium challenge in race one.
It was believed that Rizla Suzuki has offered Sykes a contract to stay in BSB for 2009 with an option for a WSB ride, but the lure of the Yamaha factory team has proved too strong for the 23-year-old.
Yamaha team manager Massimo Meregalli said: “Tom Sykes is an excellent signing for the team, he is the most interesting young rider in circulation in the racing world this year.
“I’ve had time to appreciate his riding qualities during the season and Brands Hatch was the confirmation of his talent for me. His brilliant result at Donington strengthened our conviction.
“We know that there will be much work next season because the new YZF-R1 arrives and it will have to learn the tracks. We have a lot of faith in being able to obtain good results quickly and the presence of a young person with a lot of ambition will give new motivation to the team.”
Speculation is also rife that fellow BSB rider Cal Crutchlow could be teaming up with Sykes at the Yamaha WSB outfit, after also impressing at Donington.
Yamaha are thought to be keen on retaining the services of Australian Troy Corser for 2009, although he, currently second in the WSB rider’s standings, has been heavily linked with a deal to partner Ruben Xaus at the new BMW factory team.
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