Kawasaki’s Tom Sykes clinched his seventh consecutive World Superbike victory at Donington Park, and the fact that he had to really fight for the win made it ‘even more rewarding’.
The Yorkshireman was caught in a battle for the maximum 25 points with Aruba.it Ducati’s Davide Giugliano and in the end the former World Superbike champ out paced the Italian and his Panigale to gain a three second advantage over the finishing line.
But for Sykes it was a ‘different’ race from what he was initially expecting, but even though he thought there could be improvements in the speed of his Kawasaki he is happy with his performance at his home track.
“We will sit down now and look at some information. I am really, really happy - such a different race from what I was expecting and it was great to battle with all the guys and great to see Davide so strong and consistent, It was a good race and to fight for it makes it even more rewarding,” said Sykes at the track.
“I have no doubt in my speed and my ability as a rider and we have had limitations with the bike and it is not what I am used to, and the thing is now that Kawasaki have brought out a better model for this year and it is a small step in the right direction.
“Now it is a case of this is the tool I have in my tool box and I also have to adapt and try and give the bike something it wants and perhaps I was being a bit selfish in the past wanting it to do what I want. Tomorrow is another day and we need to understand why the speed was not fantastic, but happy for this and happy knowing I got through the race and we will solve a couple of problems for tomorrow.”
