Tom Sykes says he is happy with this third place in today’s World Superbike race at Magny-Cours – but hinted that he and his team did perhaps play it safe.

The Kawasaki man beat his team-mate Jonathan Rea over the line to claw back three points in the championship chase after both started on full wets.

Winner Chaz Davies had started with an intermediate and despite dropping back to 12th in the first lap, was able to make it all back when the track began to dry and many riders, including Sykes and Rea, pitted to change tyres.

“I just wanted to be a bit more safe in the beginning and I knew it would be difficult for Chaz on the inters but it paid off in the end,” he said. “But I think we did a good race considering the pit stop and it’s just unfortunate maybe the calculations weren’t spot on.

“But it was definitely a good comeback through the field and the lap times were starting to become really competitive compared to all the other guys. We just ran out of time but that’s racing.

“I’m grateful to be on the podium in such tricky conditions which could’ve easily gone the other way so this is good but tomorrow hopefully it’s fully dry and we can try and improve the result.”