10-13 Portugal – Portimão – WSBK: Tom Sykes and Kawasaki separate at the end of 2018 – Used KAWASAKI

Posted on by admin

WSBK: Tom Sykes and Kawasaki separate at the end of 2018

10-13 Portugal - Portimão - WSBK: Tom Sykes and Kawasaki separate at the end of 2018 - Used KAWASAKI

Centerpiece of Kawasaki’s return to the top of the Superbike hierarchy in 2013, Tom Sykes has taken a back seat since joining Jonathan Rea’s official Kawasaki team. To hope to beat the triple – quadruple ?! – world champion, "Major Tom" will change motorcycle in 2019…

Less publicized than the divorce of Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt, the separation of Tom Sykes and Kawasaki in World Superbike is, in the motorcycle world, as shattering as the end of the couple that formed the couple in Grand Prix…

The statistics of the Ninja n ° 66 in WSBK (see below) are indeed not far from being as impressive as those of the Samurai n ° 26 in MotoGP. And unlike Dani, Tom managed to win the title in "his" premier class !

  • MNC of July 12, 2018 :
  • MNC of June 11, 2018 :
  • MNC Interview :

Entered World Superbike in the shadow of Ben Spies within the official Yamaha team in 2009, "Major Tom" had found his place at Kawasaki: in the private team of Paul Bird first, then in the team of factory managed by the Spanish from Provec, .

Crowned Superbike world champion in 2013 (20 years after Scott Russel!), Sykes was only half a point away from the coronation the year before against Max Biaggi … and his helpful teammate Eugene Laverty! In 2014, the Kawa pilot had fought until the last race to keep his crown against our champion Sylvain Guintoli.

10-13 Portugal - Portimão - WSBK: Tom Sykes and Kawasaki separate at the end of 2018 - Used KAWASAKI

Member of the World Top 3 between 2012 and 2016, the English driver had logically renewed his wishes. Both parties then considered that "the best" was yet to come … But the best was already there, titled once, twice, then three times with Kawa, soon four: Jonathan Rea !

Eclipsed by the "god Rea", Tom Sykes has nevertheless entered a little more into the legend of Superbike this season by registering his 44th Superpole. He thus erased the record of Troy Corser and deprived the double Australian champion of his title of "Mister Superpole".

10-13 Portugal - Portimão - WSBK: Tom Sykes and Kawasaki separate at the end of 2018 - Used KAWASAKI

Unable to deprive his No.1 teammate of the WSBK league title – the only one that really matters, right? -, Sykes has decided to leave the Kawasaki team: Jonathan having signed for, Tom prefers to change his bike, hoping that his new mount will allow him to take the ascendancy…

Many avenues open to the pilot, soon to be 33 (August 19). The most tempting option is without a doubt to return to Yamaha, with whom he made his debut in World Superbike, riding an increasingly competitive R1. But it would be necessary to dislodge Michael van der Mark who is currently ahead of him in the championship, or Alex Lowes who has obtained better results than Tom since his victory in Brno.

10-13 Portugal - Portimão - WSBK: Tom Sykes and Kawasaki separate at the end of 2018 - Used KAWASAKI

Could Sykes try to start from scratch with Ducati and his Panigale V4, alongside Chaz Davies … or instead, the Welshman may be tempted to join Kawasaki in an attempt to beat Rea on equal terms? Such an exchange would be as interesting for the drivers as for the manufacturers … and exciting for the organizers of the championship and its fans. !

Another possibility: after having worked for the return of Kawasaki to the top of the World Superbike, Tom could move to Honda whose last "pilot" title dates back to 2007 (James Toseland) and the "constructor" title in 1997. Leon Camier or Jake Gagne should then give way to the future ex-Green, whose latest collection of "goodies" is predominantly red … Simple coincidence? This color is worn in Bologna and Tokyo … but also in Noale (Aprilia) !

10-13 Portugal - Portimão - WSBK: Tom Sykes and Kawasaki separate at the end of 2018 - Used KAWASAKI

Last option considered by MNC, but highly unlikely: to find Suzuki with whom he had ridden on his very first WSBK podium as a guest driver at Donington Park. Here again, the rich experience and the astonishing speed of the n ° 66 could prove to be invaluable in order to hoist new at the top of the category. The "Gex" was. Will it be for next year? Business to follow on site: stay connected !

Statements

Tom Sykes: "I feel the moment has arrived … The moment to take a turn in my career and look for new challenges. Having the motivation to push your limits and those of your machine is essential when you seek victory in every race and I feel like I gave everything I could in KRT. I’m at my best today, and I have the experience and the performance to keep winning. So I decided to move away from the KRT project for 2019 and look for new goals and challenges. I will now focus on finishing on the podium in the last four events of 2018. I am determined to enjoy these races: making this announcement ends all speculation. The timing for these major career directions is never easy, and it is even less so as I am also facing big changes in my personal life. In this, I feel that the pressure has been building. slightly lessened from my shoulders and I’m sure 2019 m e will allow driving at full capacity ".

Guim Roda – KRT Team Manager: “The last few weeks have been very busy and we obviously discussed many hours internally. During the last tests, Tom’s concentration could not be at the top because he had to make a big decision, in addition to some family issues. to be resolved. I hope this final decision will allow us to end the year in the same way that we dominated in Assen. We have work to do until the end of the year, so it is not no time to say goodbye yet. Of course, this is an announcement for 2019, but the most important thing is to work hard to end the year with the same determination that we started it with ".

Ichiro Yoda – Senior KRT Engineer: “We understand Tom’s wishes and we agree that it is time to take a different path in WorldSBK. The entire KHI group and I have great respect for his work since the start of the WorldSBK project in 2010, and for the one that still has to be done until the end of the year of course. His ability to complete the fastest laps, develop parts and understand in detail the return of the bike to improve the material were very helpful, we will always be grateful for his efforts ".

Steve Guttridge – KME Racing Manager: “We have a lot of common history and thousands of happy miles with Tom over the years. His efforts on the track, in testing, in development as well as with the press and at public events with the fans have had a very positive impact on Kawasaki. He’s popular because he always gives 100%. It’s sad to lose such a great ambassador within KRT, but I understand that it’s time for him to find new goals and Whatever direction he takes, we want to help him create a better future for himself, which of course means getting back from pole in Portimao when the season resumes! "

Tom Sykes in World Superbike: the statistics

Before WorldSBK Portimao 2018

  • 10 seasons (1 on Yamaha, then 9 on Kawasaki)
  • 1 world title in 2013
  • Starts: 252 (222 on Kawasaki)
  • Podiums: 106 (105 on Kawa)
  • Wins: 34 (34)
  • Superpoles: 46 (46) – WSBK Record !
  • 1st lines: 76 (76)
  • Race lap record: 38 (38)

Related articles

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *