Kawasaki’s Tom Sykes believes the increased track temperature for yesterday’s second WorldSBK race at Imola meant he suffered with understeer which contributed to him only being able to stick with instead of pass team-mate and reigning champion Jonathan Rea.

Sykes got off to a cracking start from pole with Leon Camier giving chase and when the MV Agusta man went down, Sykes had a two-second gap to eventual winner Chaz Davies but the Ducati rider was able to reel in the ZX-10RR quickly and stole the lead at Variante Bassa.

“I saw the gap open to two seconds and I was able to maintain it for a while. But Chaz closed it fairly fast and was able to pass me, quite last minute, at the chicane but his bike looked stable and safe, he picked it up and that was the last I saw of him, his bike was working well whereas I suffered a little bit,” said Sykes, speaking at the track.

“Yesterday and Friday in the cooler conditions I had a much better package. I was able to do 1’46s for longer but that increase in track temperature meant I was understeering slightly. Today I feel we improved the package, we were able to stay with Jonathan. I am fairly happy to take a podium, it is the best we were at today.”