Former World Superbike Champion Tom Sykes had his Phillip Island Superpole plans scuppered by fellow Kawasaki man David Salom whose crash ended the second session before Sykes was able to put in a sticky qualifier.
A downhearted Sykes thinks that running from row three will work his tyres harder in order to pass slower men on a circuit that promises to be red hot in terms of track temperature - combination that will make podiums tough on a track that has never favoured The Huddersfield man or his ZX-10R.
“I feel very strong for the two races tomorrow but starting from this position on the third row of grid is obviously not what we wanted. I do not know about having a second chance to set a good time, it was just having a chance. I am a little bit speechless,” said Sykes.
“I saw David have a very, very big crash and my first thoughts were with him but the final grid order is completely mixed up because everybody was building up to use a qualifying tyre. I am on the third row and this gives us a lot more work to do on our tyres. We will do the best we can tomorrow now.”
