Targets for Sykes as racer returns to Jerez
(Sherco) 44. 1 Ben Robinson (Jotagsa) 24, 2 Simon (Gas Gas) 54. 1 Andrew Washington (Gas Gas) 93, 2 Chris Jones (Sherco) 119. 1 Andrew Jackson (Scorpa) 41, 2 Martin Beardsall (Sherco) 73. William Tolson (Beta) 28. Charlie Smith (Beta) 45. 1 Ian Blackburn (Sherco) 31, 2 Tony Heath (Sherco) 32, 3 Curtis Johnson (Sherco) 34 1 Ian Haigh (Montesa) 25, 2 Andy Turner (Beta) 32, 3 Chris Tolson (Beta) 39. Ben Earnshaw (Gas Gas) 52. Brandon Wilson (Gas Gas) 62. 1 Chris Wilson (Gas Gas) 49, 2 Richard Dodson (Gas Gas) 48, 3 John Wilkinson (Beta) 78. 1 Ian Roper (Montesa) 67, 2 Howard Marsden (Sc orpa) 85, 3 Phil Dyson (Gas Gas) 93. 1 Chris Greenwood (Honda)14, 2 Nick Eagleton (Honda) 21, 3 James Heppell (Honda) 44. 1 Martyn Pinder (Gas Gas) 34, 2 Lee Moorhouse (Sherco) 73. Ann Titley (Beta) 40. 1 Robert Barrett (Sherco) 18, 2 Lee Titley (Beta) 73. HUDDERSFIELD’S former World Superbikes champion Tom Sykes goes into the penultimate round of the 2017 season still hunting down three major targets.
The 31-year-old Kawasaki Racing Team rider heads to Jerez – the circuit where he confirmed his title success in 2013 – looking to secure second place in the championship behind teammate Jonathan Rea.
He is also hunting down the 100th Superbikes podium of his career and Sykes can also equal Australian legend Troy Corser’s all-time Superpole record of 43.
Sykes (pictured) will have a final chance in round 13 in Qatar next month, but probably would prefer to get the job done on one of his favoured tracks in Europe.
“We still have things to do before the end of the season and I am looking forward to riding again at Jerez,” said Sykes, who broke bones in his left hand in round 10 at Portimao.
“We have won there before and done a lot of testing there.
“I am definitely looking forward to getting on the bike again, even though I am not 100 per cent yet with my hand injury.
“In my eyes, I am considerably better than I was at Magny Cours in the previous round – so that gives me extra confidence and motivation.
“Hats off to the team of people who have looked after me and helped me to get to this stage.
“It is unbelievable how far we have come with the injury in such a short space of time.
“In the approach to Jerez we need to do what we did in France again, because I was pleasantly surprised in our pace there. It worked out nicely for me.” NETHERTON racer Josh Caygill endured a mixed outing at Hockenheim in Germany.
After an enforced retirement in race one, he recorded a best result of sixth place during the final round of the all-action Audi Sport TT Cup season – the last ever event for the one-make championship.
Despite a strong start to race one, it all came to nothing when Caygill was barged into on the first lap at the hairpin forcing retirement,
The 27-year-old hit back with a competitive drive in the second encounter to bring a positive conclusion to his two-meeting outing in the series.
“I’m pretty gutted we couldn’t come away with a podium, but I’m happy with the job I did,” said Caygill (below).
“Qualifying didn’t go how I wanted, on my quickest lap the slightest error proved costly in terms of time, but I was happy enough we could come through in the races.
“I have to say a huge thank you to Steve from Milltek Sport for his support.”
While disappointed not to have signed-off his return with some silverware, particularly with the pace having been there to challenge for the podium, Caygill was nonetheless very happy with his speed throughout the weekend.
“In race one there genuinely was nothing I could do, when we looked back at the video I did everything right and the contact wasn’t something I could avoid.
“We were in the podium fight in race two, I’d got fourth and fifth battling just ahead and I was happy to just sit where I was in sixth.
“In the end sixth was OK, but we had the possibility of fighting for the podium without the Safety Car.”