Stobart VK Vent Axia Motorsport rider Tom Sykes made it a third successive podium with a battling third place in the opening race of round eleven of the Bennetts British Superbike Championship held at Cadwell Park yesterday.
Starting from the front row of the grid the 21 year old Yorkshireman followed up a double podium success last time out at Croft with some more silverware as he continued his sensational run of results.
However sadly in race two he couldn’t make it four consecutive podiums when he ran wide whilst battling it out at the front and as a result had to settle for fifth place in front of a massive record crowd at the Lincolnshire venue.
For team mate Shane ‘Shakey’ Byrne it was another weekend of mixed fortunes and after following up a superb fourth place in the opening race, the 30 year old Londoner crashed out of race two when well placed late on and unfortunately could not add to his championship tally.
Tom Sykes“I got a good start in both races but I was struggling a bit in the first race so I tried something with the electronics and it helped and then a couple of riders went down and gifted me the podium, but I’ll take it and enjoy it as well! I was running consistent lap times in the second race and was lying in third behind Kiyo and there was only one place where I knew I could pass him but when I made my move the rear tyre locked up and I ran wide. I’ve had a great season so far, the team and Dunlop have been great and I’m looking forward to the remaining two rounds and hopefully carry on with some more podiums.”
Shane Byrne“It’s not for the lack of trying! In the second race I was dreading the restart when the pace car came out, but I went so much better and was feeling really comfortable on the bike. I was on the back of Greg (Lavilla) and looking at going for second place but coming up the mountain Greg slowed a little in front of me and I just went off sideways and that was it.”
Paul Bird“It was looking really good until the last lap and a half and it looked like we were going to have one of our best results of the year. Both riders are trying so hard and I’m sure we will have a double podium by the end of the year. It’s great that our private team is battling with the factory bikes at every round now and I’m really pleased with both riders - you can’t knock them for trying.”
The penultimate round of the Bennetts British Superbike Championship takes place at Donington Park in four weeks time with Sykes looking to make it three podiums at three different venues and Byrne hoping he can add to the victory that he took at Mallory Park back in July.
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