Kawasaki’s Tom Sykes topped both World Superbike free practice sessions at Donington Park, and proved to be the man to beat this weekend. Huddersfield’s finest has an impeccable record at the track and he is aiming for his fourth consecutive double win at the circuit.
Sykes lapped a 1’27.927, but his team-mate Jonathan Rea was only 0.04 seconds off the pace of the Yorkshireman. Even though Sykes was a fraction shy off his own circuit record the former World Superbike champion is adamant that he still has more to give, and that he can improve even more for qualifying and the race tomorrow.
The rider currently lies third in the standings with a total of 399 points, and a double victory will help him edge even closer to Rea, who currently leads the series after five rounds. Even though there is work to do to keep his title hopes alive, Sykes will be going to bed happy and is feeling relaxed ahead of the track activities tomorrow.
“It is great to be back on home soil, it would be nice to continue the form [at the circuit] and definitely after today we have the package which is at least good as anyone else to fight for the victory,” said Sykes at the track.
“I am very happy and very relaxed, I had a small off [in FP2], it was a strange crash and it is nothing to worry about and I went straight back out to continue with the great performance. We have learnt a lot and tomorrow we will aim to make some small adjustments just to try and improve in some areas. But overall a good start to the weekend and I will go to bed happy knowing that tomorrow we have got a good package and potentially we can improve.”