Sykes hopes WSB experience can add edge at Knockhill
Added on Tuesday, August 5th, 2008 by Carole Nash Editor
Sykes hopes WSB experience can add edge at Knockhill
Tom Sykes believes that his performance in the World Superbikes at Brand Hatch at the weekend will stand him in good stead for the rest of the British Superbike championship season.
The Huddersfield rider entered the British leg of the WSB championship as a wildcard rider and put in a highly respectable performance on his BSB-spec Rizla Suzuki.
In race one, mechanical failure on lap nine forced Sykes to give up his third place position, only trailing to Troy Bayliss and Ryuichi Kiyonari whilst in race two, Sykes recovered to finish a respectable seventh.
After the race, the 22-year-old claimed that the experience will give him an added edge as he looks to back up from his double BSB win at Oulton Park and improve on his third-place standing at Knockhill this weekend.
“I have had an excellent weekend at Brands Hatch mixing it with the World Superbike regulars,” said Sykes. “The fans really got behind me and every time I came over the line I got a big cheer.
“I want to say a huge thank you to the Rizla Suzuki team for all their hard work; I’m thrilled with what we have achieved. It was a superb opportunity and I have enjoyed every moment of it plus I have learned a lot from the other riders.
“I am now looking forward to Knockhill next weekend where I hope I can pick up from where I left off at Oulton Park.”
Rizla Suzuki Team Manager Jack Valentine took the time to praise his rider and claimed that the result demonstrated that both Sykes and Rizla Suzuki can compete with the very best.
“I’m over the moon with how the weekend has gone,” claimed Valentine.
“Tom did a great job and held his own on track amongst the World’s best – I’m very proud of him.
“He and the Rizla Suzuki team have shown that they can perform at World level even when using a lower specification British Superbike engine. I’ve been impressed with how hard everyone has worked this weekend; we have all enjoyed the experience.
“I was gutted for him in race one but to compete for a podium position at World level really is an achievement. He is a very talented rider and that has shone through when it needed to, now it is back to BSB duty at Knockhill next weekend.”
