Get to know the grid: WSBK- Tom Sykes #66

Tom Sykes #66

Born: 19/08/1985 Huddersfield
Current Season: Yamaha WSB
Bike: Yamaha YZF R1

BSB Cadwell 2007 - Great jump of

honda driver Tom Sykes

- see him fly

MCN Sport: Ben Spies and

Tom Sykes test the 2009

Yamaha R1

Affectionately known as ‘Grinner’ by his fans, Tom Sykes has a reputation as one of the happiest most cheerful faces in the paddock. The young Brit from Huddersfield in the UK has risen quickly through British Supersport and British Superbike to a place on the 2009 Yamaha World Superbike Team.

Tom cut his teeth in Superbike with two years in the British Championship. In 2007 he proved to be a serious contender right from the outset. He finished 18 of the first 20 rounds, including a pair of 4th places at Snetterton and a second on the grid at Oulton Park, and pole at Donington Park. Sykes took his first two podiums at the Croft circuit, to move up to 6th in the championship and was named Rookie of the Year.

In 2008 Tom signed up with Rizla Suzuki and showed the championship he meant business. He scored his first two victories at Oulton Park in July, and he won the day's opening race next time out at Knockhill, making it three wins.

A couple of Tom’s most notable appearances of 2008 were his two wildcard rides in the World Superbike Championship. At the Brands Hatch round he caught everyone’s attention when he qualified sixth, beating the three WSB works Suzukis’, including Max Neukirchner. Unfortunately a holed radiator saw him retire from the first race but he managed a respectable sixth in race two. His second wildcard appearance came at Donington in the European round of the 2008 WSB Championship. Faced with the appalling weather conditions he put in an incredible performance. Qualifying on the second row, he got a flying start in race one and was leading comfortably when the race was red-flagged. He started strongly again on the re-start however a misunderstanding on a flag (a white flag with a red cross. In BSB races this indicates the deployment of the safety car, however in WSBK it merely means slippery surface.) out meant he slowed and so ended up finishing second behind 2008 World Champion Troy Bayliss. He was less competitive in race two, but his reputation had still been boosted.

After a solid year in the British Championship Tom has made the move up and will start his World Superbike career in 2009 aboard the all new Yamaha YZF-R1. Judging by his performance as a wildcard this year, Tom is all set and looking forward to the challenge with new team-mate, AMA three-time champion Ben Spies.

From: http://www.yamaha-racing.com, & Wiki

Spies sets the pace yet again in Monza debut test

Yamaha World Superbike rider Ben Spies again proved the quickest rider on the day in his debut Monza test for the team. Over the two days of testing the American rider was consistently fast, laying down at least ten consecutive laps under last year’s lap record whilst on race tyres. Team-mate Sykes was also setting a blistering pace, and one of only five riders to break under the 1’46” mark. Ducati riders Haga and Fabrizio were second and third fastest respectively with times of 1’45.5 and 1’45.6 whilst Sykes was fifth fastest behind Last year’s race winner Neukirchener.

Ben Spies, Yamaha World Superbike Team (1’45.3) “The test was good, it was really good to come back and reset myself after Valencia as I was feeling really frustrated. It was good to take a couple of days off, then come back fresh. We found a really good pace, and I loved Monza which is another new track for me. We also did half a race simulation, and got some really competitive times. I think we’ve got a good setup for the bike for when we come back here. Hopefully we’ll show up with a couple more tricks on the bike as well.”

Tom Sykes, Yamaha World Superbike Team (1’45.8) “As soon as I did my first lap I had a big smile, the track is amazing, and not what I’m used to at all, lots of fast straights and fantastic corners. It was a really good test for me, we’ve proved again we can be very fast and we can do the lap times over distance. Overall we’ve found a good set-up. It was a great opportunity for myself and my side of the garage to look at what changes we make and what it does to the character of the bike. We should be faster now which is good, considering the pace we have already. I’ve always wanted to ride Assen, unfortunately it’s not the old full circuit I’m but still looking forward to it.” Massimo Meregalli, Yamaha World Superbike Team Manager “Overall it’s been a really good test for us for both riders. We tested some chassis set ups and both the riders were quite happy with the developments. We got some good long runs in, especially for Ben so in the end we are quite satisfied. Last year the lap record was 1’45.8, Ben was running consistent laps below this time on race tyres, including a 1’45.3. Tom also proved to be consistently fast and we were happy to see him dipping under last year’s lap record.” from: yamaha-network.com

Spies sets the pace yet again in Monza debut test

Yamaha World Superbike rider Ben Spies again proved the quickest rider on the day in his debut Monza test for the team. Over the two days of testing the American rider was consistently fast, laying down at least ten consecutive laps under last year’s lap record whilst on race tyres. Team-mate Sykes was also setting a blistering pace, and one of only five riders to break under the 1’46” mark. Ducati riders Haga and Fabrizio were second and third fastest respectively with times of 1’45.5 and 1’45.6 whilst Sykes was fifth fastest behind Last year’s race winner Neukirchener.

Ben Spies, Yamaha World Superbike Team (1’45.3) “The test was good, it was really good to come back and reset myself after Valencia as I was feeling really frustrated. It was good to take a couple of days off, then come back fresh. We found a really good pace, and I loved Monza which is another new track for me. We also did half a race simulation, and got some really competitive times. I think we’ve got a good setup for the bike for when we come back here. Hopefully we’ll show up with a couple more tricks on the bike as well.”

Tom Sykes, Yamaha World Superbike Team (1’45.8) “As soon as I did my first lap I had a big smile, the track is amazing, and not what I’m used to at all, lots of fast straights and fantastic corners. It was a really good test for me, we’ve proved again we can be very fast and we can do the lap times over distance. Overall we’ve found a good set-up. It was a great opportunity for myself and my side of the garage to look at what changes we make and what it does to the character of the bike. We should be faster now which is good, considering the pace we have already. I’ve always wanted to ride Assen, unfortunately it’s not the old full circuit I’m but still looking forward to it.” Massimo Meregalli, Yamaha World Superbike Team Manager “Overall it’s been a really good test for us for both riders. We tested some chassis set ups and both the riders were quite happy with the developments. We got some good long runs in, especially for Ben so in the end we are quite satisfied. Last year the lap record was 1’45.8, Ben was running consistent laps below this time on race tyres, including a 1’45.3. Tom also proved to be consistently fast and we were happy to see him dipping under last year’s lap record.” from: yamaha-network.com