After one and a half years away from racing Tom Sykes is not giving up on his racing career.

Tom Sykes was a full-time entry on the World Superbike grid from 2009 until 2021. However, he made a return to the Championship in 2023, before suffering major injuries.

Sykes suffered ten broken ribs including three in two separate places. He also suffered a thoracic and left ankle injury.

During his World Superbike career, Sykes rode for Yamaha, Kawasaki and BMW. In 2013 the British rider went on to win the World Superbike Championship with the Kawasaki Racing Team.

However, after his injury in 2023, the former World Champion was left without a ride for the 2024 season. After a year away from racing the 39-year-old is determined to return to racing in the future.

"Of course I want to come back, I'm very motivated," Sykes told SPEEDWEEK.com. "Last year I was unlucky and was injured right at the time when all the contracts were being made. That cost me my chance. Unfortunately times have changed, I'm trying to understand some of the decisions that were made."

'I am tired of developing motorcycles.'

It does not seem like Sykes will return in 2025 as there are only two seats remaining on the World Superbike grid.

Sykes was asked whether he would make a return to racing as a test rider for any manufacturers. However, the veteran rider is determined to make his return as a racer rather than a tester.

"I imagine myself on the starting grid as a racing driver," he said. "I had hoped that some teams would choose differently. But it is what it is. Some did not understand who I am, how motivated I still am and what I can bring to a team apart from myself. I am tired of developing motorcycles.

"At Kawasaki we had a good balance between development and good racing results. Then I went to BMW and ended up losing three years of my career. I tried to develop, but the commitment was missing. No matter what I asked for, it never came. Five years later they put the puzzle together. I had the ambition, I gave the feedback, but the innovations in the engine, electronics and swingarm were not what I had asked for."

'I have to deal with the situation and accept it - or not.'

After four years away from racing Andrea Iannone returned in the 2024 World Superbike Championship. Sykes used Iannone has an example when explaining how on a competitive machine he could potentially do similar as he is still 'hungry and motivated'.

"It's true, I've been out of the sport for a while," concluded Sykes. "Andrea Iannone was away for four years and we all saw his results. Time away from the bike is not a bad thing; you can turn the argument around and say that time makes you hungry and motivated.

"It makes me sad that riders who lack that motivation are given a chance. I know that nothing will change because of that. So I have to deal with the situation and accept it - or not."