Sykes takes up Donington WSB wildcard
Added on Tuesday, September 2nd, 2008 by Carole Nash Editor
Sykes takes up Donington WSB wildcard
Tom Sykes has confirmed that he will take up a wildcard position at the World Superbikes European round at Donington Park.
The Huddersfield rider, currently second in the British Superbike Championship, will ride his BSB spec Rizla Suzuki at Donington this weekend following a successful wildcard appearance at Brand Hatch in the earlier round of the World Superbike Championship back in August.
Sykes impressed on his WSB debut, overcoming the power disadvantage to lead several established WSB names before a technical failure forced him to retire from race one, before finishing a respectable seventh in race two, ahead of the likes of championship leader Troy Bayliss, Carlos Checa and Max Biaggi.
Sykes has since maintained strong results in the British Superbike Championship and Rizla Suzuki manager Jack Valentine has strong hopes for the 22-year-old.
“I’m really looking forward to our second chance at World Superbikes following our results at Brands Hatch,” said Valentine. “We now have the opportunity to do Donington Park so we are hoping for even better results there.
“Donington is one of Tom’s favourite tracks. We will be at a slight disadvantage like last time as we are running a BSB specification engine but we hope to get the fans behind us like at Brands Hatch.
“We have already completed a World Superbike round so the team is used to the routine of the weekend and that will make it a little easier. I’m pleased that Rizla Suzuki has agreed to back us up to do this additional round. It gives us another chance to show the World what we and Tom are capable of achieving.”
Sykes will join BSB rivals and HM Plant Honda riders Cal Crutchlow and Leon Haslam at Donington as well as James Ellison.
