Tom Sykes
Tom Sykes | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Sykes at World Superbikes, Silverstone, 2012. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Nationality | English | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Born | Huddersfield, West Yorkshire | 19 August 1985||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Current team | Kawasaki Superbike Racing Team | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Bike number | 66 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Tom Sykes is a motorcycle road racer born 19 August 1985 in Huddersfield, Yorkshire, England. In 2007 he gained his first ride in British Superbikes, riding a Stobart Vent-Axia Honda; Sykes finished in sixth position in the championship in his rookie year. Following this success he was signed by the Rizla Suzuki team for the 2008 season; he went on to finish 4th in the championship as well as making wildcard World Superbike appearances at Brands Hatch & Donington Park, where he impressed strongly, helping him gain a World Superbike ride at Yamaha Motor Italia for the 2009 season.[1] For 2010 he races a Paul Bird Motorsport Kawasaki in the series.
Early years
Sykes is the grandson of Peter Brooks, who is involved in the manufacture of Kawasaki bikes. Sykes raced in the British Supersport championship from 2003 to 2006, finishing 8th, 5th, 6th, and as runner-up to Cal Crutchlow in 2006.[2]
British Superbikes 2007–2008
2007 was his first season in the British Superbike championship, riding for the Stobart Vent-Axia Honda team alongside 2003 series champion Shane Byrne. He finished 18 of the first 20 rounds, including a pair of 4th places at Snetterton.[3] Second on the grid at Oulton Park,[4] and pole at Donington Park.[5] Sykes took his first two podiums at the Croft circuit, to move up to 6th in the championship, immediately behind Byrne, and immediately ahead of Leon Camier on another Honda.
Shortly after joining the Rizla Suzuki team for 2008, he was seen testing a Suzuki MotoGP bike.[6] Sykes started the 2008 with a 6th and an 8th at Thruxton (The first races were there as the season opener at Brands Hatch was snowed off). He took pole position at Oulton Park, but crashed at the aborted start of race 1, before finishinh 5th on the restart [1]. He led race 2 until being taken out by Leon Haslam, who was excluded for the move. Sykes continued to finish towards the front of the field consistently scoring podiums at Brands Hatch (2nd), Donington Park (3rd) and Snetterton (3rd) all in the first of the 2 races. It was at Oulton Park where he scored his first two victories, taking the lead from James Ellison late in race 1 but leading most of race 2. He followed that up with a third straight win at Knockhill in the first race, and collected podiums for the rest of the championship. Sykes finished 4th in the championship with 316 points, 2 points behind Cal Crutchlow.
World Superbikes 2008–Present
Sykes made his World Superbike Championship debut at Brands Hatch as a wildcard, impressing by qualifying sixth (ahead of three works Suzukis with more powerful engines, including title contender Max Neukirchner). He retired from a strong position in race 1 due to a hole in the radiator by rocks thrown up by Max Biaggi's Sterilgarda Ducati machine, but came back to finish 6th in race 2. He gained a second wildcard meeting at Donington Park in changeable conditions, where he proved even stronger. He again qualified on the second row, but got a flying start in race one and had a comfortable lead when the race was red-flagged due to oil from Noriyuki Haga's Yamaha. Knowing he had to finish within 4 seconds of Troy Bayliss to win on aggregate, Sykes lead early in race two, before easing off after seeing a white flag with a red cross. In BSB races this indicates the deployment of the safety car, however in WSBK it merely means slippery surface. The time he and Leon Haslam lost here proved costly, as Sykes failed to stay close enough to Bayliss, finishing second behind the three-time series champion. He was less competitive in race two, but his reputation had still been boosted.
On 11 September 2008 Sykes signed a contract with the Yamaha Motor Italia World Superbike team for the 2009 season, with an option to extend that contract until 2010 depending on results.[1] Sykes had an average year finishing mostly mid-pack, while his team mate Ben Spies was at the front of the field. This led to Yamaha not offering Sykes a second year, instead hiring fellow Brits James Toseland and Cal Crutchlow.
Sykes signed for the Paul Bird Motorsport Kawasaki team for 2010, as had been rumoured,[7] enabling him to stay in the World Superbike class. Sykes said
“It’s going to be a challenge, but I’m looking forward to it. I believe that from what is in place in the team we’re going to be able to do a good job.”
The Kawasaki was relatively uncompetitive in 2010, but Sykes managed a strong fifth place at Monza. He was the team leader for much of the year, with the more experienced Chris Vermeulen struggling following a knee injury sustained at the first round at Phillip Island. Despite speculation as to his future with the team, Sykes flew to Japan to help test the ZX-10R, the bike the team will use for 2011.[8] He made a wildcard appearance with the team in the British Superbike Championship at Brands Hatch.[9]
On the final weekend of the 2010 World Superbike Championship season, Sykes confirmed that he had signed a one year contract with Kawasaki that would see him ride in the 2011 Superbike World Championship season.[10]
Sykes crashed in the chicane at Donington Park shortly after he passed an Aprilia and moved up to 4th place and he was taken out of the race while his teammates managed mid -placings. He finished close to last on race 2, but Lascorz made 6th.
Career statistics
Stats correct as of season end 2012
All Time
Series | Years Active | Races | Poles | Podiums | Wins | 2nd place | 3rd place | Fast Laps | Titles | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
British Superbike Championship | 2007–08, 2010 | 53 | 2 | 18 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 0 | 0 | |
World Superbike Championship | 2009– | 99 | 10 | 11 | 4 | 5 | 4 | 4 | 0 | |
Total | 152 | 12 | 29 | 9 | 11 | 11 | 4 | 0 |
By championship
British Supersport Championship
Yr | Class | Team | SIL |
BHI |
SNE |
OUL |
MON |
SNE |
BHGP |
KNO |
MAL |
CRO |
CAD |
OUL |
DON |
Pos | Pts | Ref |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
2004 | BSS | Suzuki | 10 | Ret | 7 | 14 | 4 | 10 | Ret | 5 | 9 | 4 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 5th | 123 | [11] |
Yr | Class | Team | BHI |
THR |
MAL |
OUL |
MON |
CRO |
KNO |
SNE |
SIL |
CAD |
OUL |
DON |
BHGP |
Pos | Pts | Ref |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
2005 | BSS | Suzuki | Ret | 9 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 3 | Ret | 4 | 5th | 119 | [12] |
Yr | Class | Team | BHI |
DON |
THR |
OUL |
MON |
MAL |
SNE |
KNO |
OUL |
CRO |
CAD |
SIL |
BHGP |
Pos | Pts | Ref |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
2006 | BSS | Suzuki | 9 | 5 | 6 | 3 | C | 3 | 3 | Ret | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 2nd | 172 | [13] |
British Superbike Championship
Yr | Class | Team | BHGP |
THR |
SIL |
OUL |
SNE |
MOP |
KNO |
OUL |
MAL |
CRO |
CAD |
DON |
BHI |
Pos | Pts | Ref | |||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
R1 | R2 | R1 | R2 | R1 | R2 | R1 | R2 | R1 | R2 | R1 | R2 | R1 | R2 | R1 | R2 | R1 | R2 | R1 | R2 | R1 | R2 | R1 | R2 | R1 | R2 | ||||||
2007 | BSB | Honda | 7 | 5 | 5 | 7 | 7 | 6 | 5 | 6 | 4 | 4 | Ret | 7 | 6 | 4 | Ret | 6 | 6 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 5 | 2 | 2 | Ret | 7 | 6th | 279 |
Yr | Class | Team | THR |
OUL |
BHGP |
DON |
SNE |
MAL |
OUL |
KNO |
CAD |
CRO |
SIL |
BHI |
Pos | Pts | Ref | ||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
R1 | R2 | R1 | R2 | R1 | R2 | R1 | R2 | R1 | R2 | R1 | R2 | R1 | R2 | R1 | R2 | R1 | R2 | R1 | R2 | R1 | R2 | R1 | R2 | ||||||
2008 | BSB | Suzuki | 6 | 8 | 5 | Ret | 2 | Ret | 3 | 6 | 3 | 7 | 4 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 2 | DSQ | 3 | 6 | Ret | 4th | 316 | [14] |
Year | Bike | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | Pos | Pts | Ref | |||||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
R1 | R2 | R1 | R2 | R1 | R2 | R1 | R2 | R1 | R2 | R1 | R2 | R1 | R2 | R3 | R1 | R2 | R3 | R1 | R2 | R1 | R2 | R1 | R2 | R1 | R2 | R3 | |||||
2010 | Kawasaki | BHI |
BHI |
THR |
THR |
OUL |
OUL |
CAD |
CAD |
MAL |
MAL |
KNO |
KNO |
SNE |
SNE |
SNE |
BHGP 5 |
BHGP 1 |
BHGP 1 |
CAD |
CAD |
CRO |
CRO |
SIL |
SIL |
OUL |
OUL |
OUL |
16th | 61 | [15] |
World Superbike Championship
Year | Make | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | Pos | Pts | Ref | ||||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
R1 | R2 | R1 | R2 | R1 | R2 | R1 | R2 | R1 | R2 | R1 | R2 | R1 | R2 | R1 | R2 | R1 | R2 | R1 | R2 | R1 | R2 | R1 | R2 | R1 | R2 | R1 | R2 | |||||
2008 | Suzuki | QAT | QAT | AUS | AUS | ESP | ESP | NED | NED | ITA | ITA | USA | USA | GER | GER | SMR | SMR | CZE | CZE | GBR Ret |
GBR 7 |
EUR 2 |
EUR 10 |
ITA | ITA | FRA | FRA | POR | POR | 21st | 35 | [16] |
2009 | Yamaha | AUS 10 |
AUS 10 |
QAT 7 |
QAT 5 |
SPA 7 |
SPA 10 |
NED 4 |
NED 6 |
ITA 6 |
ITA 6 |
RSA 10 |
RSA 9 |
USA 13 |
USA 9 |
SMR 8 |
SMR 7 |
GBR Ret |
GBR 5 |
CZE Ret |
CZE 7 |
GER 9 |
GER 8 |
ITA 9 |
ITA 12 |
FRA Ret |
FRA Ret |
POR DNS |
POR DNS |
9th | 176 | [17] |
2010 | Kawasaki | AUS 13 |
AUS Ret |
POR 15 |
POR 13 |
SPA 11 |
SPA 15 |
NED 12 |
NED Ret |
ITA 9 |
ITA 5 |
RSA 16 |
RSA 14 |
USA 13 |
USA 14 |
SMR 15 |
SMR 16 |
CZE 11 |
CZE Ret |
GBR 18 |
GBR 14 |
GER 5 |
GER 7 |
ITA 6 |
ITA 4 |
FRA 7 |
FRA 11 |
14th | 106 | [18] | ||
2011 | Kawasaki | AUS 8 |
AUS 9 |
EUR Ret |
EUR 12 |
NED 14 |
NED 11 |
ITA 13 |
ITA 11 |
USA 6 |
USA 10 |
SMR 4 |
SMR 14 |
SPA 5 |
SPA Ret |
CZE 10 |
CZE 14 |
GBR DNS |
GBR DNS |
GER 11 |
GER 1 |
ITA 4 |
ITA Ret |
FRA 8 |
FRA Ret |
POR 10 |
POR Ret |
13th | 141 | [19] | ||
2012 | Kawasaki | AUS 4 |
AUS 3 |
ITA 2 |
ITA 2 |
NED Ret |
NED 6 |
ITA C |
ITA 1 |
EUR 3 |
EUR 3 |
USA 8 |
USA 5 |
SMR 4 |
SMR 7 |
SPA Ret |
SPA 8 |
CZE 2 |
CZE 2 |
GBR 8 |
GBR 12 |
RUS 1 |
RUS 2 |
GER 4 |
GER 5 |
POR 1 |
POR Ret |
FRA 3 |
FRA 1 |
2nd | 357.5 | [20] |
References
- ^ a b http://londonbikers.com/news/9842/tom-sykes-steps-up-to-world-superbikes-with-yamaha-for-2009
- ^ http://www.rizla-suzuki.co.uk/pages/common/crescent.aspx?pg=191
- ^ http://www.insidebikes.com/racing/bsb/results/results_detail.asp?id=7453
- ^ http://londonbikers.com/news/4062/tom-sykes-rocks-to-front-row-start
- ^ http://www.bikesportnews.com/news/donbsbquali.html
- ^ http://www.crash.net/motorsport/bsb/news/156958-0/qa_tom_sykes_-_exclusive.html
- ^ http://www.motorcyclenews.com/MCN/sport/sportresults/World-Superbikes/2009/October/Oct21wsbsykes/
- ^ "Sykes tests new Kawasaki ZX-10R". crash.net. Crash Media Group. 2010-08-06. Retrieved 2010-08-07.
- ^ "Rutter dominates for Brands Hatch pole". crash.net. Crash Media Group. 2010-08-07. Retrieved 2010-08-07.
- ^ "Sykes pens Kawasaki deal". Insidebikes. Carole Nash. 2010-10-04. Retrieved 2010-10-04.
- ^ http://www.calcrutchlow.com/2004/final.asp
- ^ http://www.yamaha-racing.com/Racing/wsb/rider_team/sykes.jsp#
- ^ http://www.calcrutchlow.com/2006/final.asp
- ^ http://www.suzuki-racing.com/2008%20Archive/news_page.aspx?OBJ_ID=14640
- ^ http://www.britishsuperbike.com/news/sykes-makes-it-a-double.aspx
- ^ "Portimao; 31 October, 1–2 November 2008: Superbike - Championship Standings". Superbike World Championship. Infront Motor Sports. 2008-11-02. Retrieved 2010-07-07.
- ^ "2009 Standings Riders - FIM Superbike World Championship". Superbike World Championship. Infront Motor Sports. Retrieved 2010-07-07.
- ^ "2010 Standings Riders - FIM Superbike World Championship". Superbike World Championship. Infront Motor Sports. Retrieved 2010-07-07.
- ^ "2011 Standings Riders - FIM Superbike World Championship". Superbike World Championship. Infront Motor Sports. Retrieved 2011-16-10.
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