Kawasaki’s Tom Sykes must have been doing something right along with his crew as he notched up his third double World Superbike race victory at Magny-Cours. The Huddersfield rider is adamant that it is down to the hard work conducted by his team and the fact that they are ‘chasing perfection’ with the bike.

In the opening race Sykes had a two second advantage over rival, Aprilia’s Sylvain Guintoli as the laps timed down. When a red flag was shown to halt the race because of a bike laying on track on fire, Sykes was declared the winner and, as enough laps had been completed to call it a full result, he was awarded full points.

The second race also did not quite go the full distance when rain started to fall on the last lap. A red flag was shown to halt proceedings again and this time Sykes was 11.091 seconds ahead in the final race results. On lap four he set a new lap record of 1’37.932, cementing his ninth race win of the year.

“It is great to score a double win here and we made two small changes in the bike to race two. We are always chasing perfection. That is what we spend our lives doing. When you are on the edge all the time you have got very small changes that make a big outcome,” said Sykes.

“The bike was very nice to ride today and the races went very well. When the circuit and conditions suit a bike and rider you have to take the most advantage from it. Magny-Cours was generous to me, the bike and all at Kawasaki, so this was great.

“It was spitting with rain at the end of race two and that was difficult to manage, even though I had a big gap and not much pressure. I was sliding the rear a lot. We still have some work to do but the good thing is that we have been there or thereabouts all season.”