Kawasaki’s Tom Sykes did not have the start to his World Superbike title defence that he really wanted. The reigning champion experienced some grip issues in race one and finished in seventh, but changes to his set-up arrived at by his team allowed him to fight back through the field in race two and he took a strong third place on the rostrum.
Huddersfield’s finest could have challenged for the win had the race not been cut short by the red flag, but he was still only 1.103 seconds from the eventual winner, Aprilia’s Sylvain Guintoli.
His team-mate Loris Baz is second in the overall World Superbike points, on 31, while Sykes’ recovery from seventh in race one puts him sixth overall, but still very close to the top positions after one round.
“We had some issues in race one but in the second race we changed the set-up. I really do have to say a big thanks to the team. I have a real good set of guys working for me and their knowledge is incredible,” said Sykes.
“We went back to some basics and it was so nice. Although Sylvain rode well to win the race I felt race two would have been our race, but unfortunately it was cut short. That is how racing goes sometimes. I am very happy with how things have gone finally. For track temperatures to be so hot on race day here in Phillip Island, and a little bit of wind blowing around, these are usually the worst conditions for us.
“So it was great to come back so strong at the end. We reeled in the Aprilia and that never usually happens here, so I felt the next second laps of the second race would have been my part of the race.
“Now I can head back to Europe knowing that we have been so competitive at our worst circuit. We’re off to a steady start but I am only six points off second in the championship and sixteen points off the lead.”
