Tom Sykes is confident he can continue his good run of form at Misano after a strong showing in World Superbike practice today.
Sykes did suffer a small crash in the second practice session, having narrowly missed out on top spot in the first, although he doesn’t believe it is too much to worry about.
The Yorkshireman said he got caught out slightly by the tyres at Misano, and when he tipped the ZX-10R into Turn 2 the rear went away from him.
“Our second flying lap, the condition was quite warm but I think it’s just the nature of the track – there is quite greasy anyway, it’s quite greasy on the edge of the tyres,” Sykes said.
“I did nothing strange, the speed was the same and it was when I went in. I made throttle connection and lost the rear but the connection was only just really fractional.
“It was a very strange crash but, it’s racing and I think if anyone I have to blame myself because I was riding and that’s that but it’s something that we can consider now.
“I know a couple of other riders had similar problems, but no we can build on this. We tried some things afterwards and good direction for tomorrow so we’re quite relaxed.”
Kawasaki rider Sykes was sat atop the second session timesheets for much of it, only denied late by first Althea BMW’s Markus Reiterberger and then Nicky Hayden, bumping him to third.
Despite that the former World Superbike champion, like team-mate Jonathan Rea, is confident the Kawasaki will be in a strong place come tomorrows racing and the man who has gained pole in the last four years at Misano can’t wait to get started.
New parts used at the recent test for the team in Jerez worked well for Sykes, and he believes the benefits will continue when the flag drops.
“I think the parts definitely helped, because the pace is already strong even from the first session,” he said.
“This morning we were fastest and obviously got beaten at the end but our pace is strong and now it’s just a matter of working on consistency but I’m relaxed on the bike.
“The more we develop to what we know the faster I become so this always excites me and motivates me and this is what we’re working towards, finally because it’s like I say – the chassis setup of this bike is always improving.
“We’re always finding there’s a really good balance but from the past history you know, from lets say the engine character, I’m missing something that – let’s say I’m missing my old girlfriend – so that’s something that we’ll always try to work towards, of course.
“We have big limitations, with the rules and regulations, so we can only do what we can do and the rest is all about a compromise for me but I need to try and give the bike something back and hopefully we can find an even better harmony together, but in the last couple of races we’ve been working quite well.”