WSBK Rider Sykes Doubles in Brands

British Superbike

Kawasaki Racing Team World Superbike rider, Tom Sykes put in an outstanding performance today at the packed British Superbike race at Brands Hatch to complete a dominant double race win.

New recruit for the weekend was Northern Irishman, Ian Lowry, who also put in a sterling first-time performance on the Ninja machine.

Having flown directly from Japan first thing Friday morning, Sykes was straight on the pace during the first practice session and continued to ride impressively over the entire race weekend outshining his former BSB competitors.

Qualifying in second position behind Rutter gave the World SBK rider Sykes a front row advantage for Saturdays two-part race but unfortunately the wet weather conditions put a slight dampening on Tom’s fifth place result.

Starting Sundays two races from the second row in race one and front row in race two ensured two good starts from Tom who took to the front early in both races to set a blistering pace and an outstanding double race victory ahead of Honda rider, Kiyonari.

Lowry made the most of his factory spec World Superbike Kawasaki despite battling with a severe chest infection over the weekend. Having never ridden on the Ninja ZX-10R before, Ian quickly got to grips with the machine on Friday and was consistently inside the top twelve to start Saturday’s race from an impressive tenth place on the grid.

Heavy rain hindered Lowry’s lap times in the second-part of race one, and despite a well deserved tenth place he was forced to start Sunday’s racing in a disappointing eighteenth position. Ian battled out the three races to complete the weekend with a deserving double tenth and eleventh place.

The Kawasaki Racing Team will now take a well-earned break during August and will regroup again for round eleven of the Hannspree World Superbike Championship taking place at the Nurburgring on 5 September.

Tom Sykes says: “It’s great to race at Brands Hatch again as it’s a circuit I really love. There was quite a bit of pressure from myself to perform this weekend but we used this as a bit of a test and up until last night things weren’t really going that well.”

“But we went back to basics and made a few changes which obviously seemed to work in today’s races. Hats off to the team and Paul Bird for pushing hard for us to come here as the results paid off and it just goes to show we’re not doing a bad job in where we are in the World Championship. It’s a nice pat on the back to the guys for all their hard work this year and really good for me to get the double. It has certainly put a smile on my face.”

Ian Lowry says: “I was called Thursday lunchtime to ride for the Kawasaki Superbike Team and I jumped at the opportunity despite having been pretty ill the past week. I was thrown in the deep end a little but I really enjoyed riding the Kawasaki machine and on Friday I gelled with it straight away and managed to do some good lap times.”

“In Sundays’ races I wasn’t quite as comfortable due to my health but I’m pleased I was able to perform at this level having been out of racing most of the year. I want to thank Paul Bird and the Kawasaki Racing Team for the opening and I really hope I get another opportunity to try and better what I did here this weekend.”

Paul Bird (Team Owner) says: “I promised Stuart Higgs that I would bring my Team to a BSB race this year and Brands was it for us as it’s always been a favourite of mine and sorely missed on the World Superbike Calendar. Motorsport Vision put on a great show and we are over the moon to have contributed to the success of the weekend.”

“Tom rode outstandingly and proved that he is a World Class rider and it is obviously a nice lift for the team and myself to enjoy some winning ways again. Ian did a fantastic job for us under the circumstances as he was called in last minute and wasn’t a hundred percent well, but he tried hard and got some good track time and results for us here.”

2010 Brands Hatch British Superbike Race Results

RACE 1: Saturday 7 August (2 part-race declared WET – 18 laps)

1. A. Seeley (Relentless Suzuki)
2. M. Rutter (Ridersmotorcycles.com Ducati)
3. R. Kiyonari (HM Plant Honda)
4. J. Brookes (HM Plant Honda)
5. T. Sykes (Kawasaki Racing Team)
6. M. Laverty (Relentless Suzuki)
7. J. Ellison (Swan Honda)
8. Y. Kagayama (Crescent Suzuki)
9. J. Laverty (Buildbase Kawasaki)
10. I. Lowry (Kawasaki Racing Team

RACE 2: Sunday 8 August (20 laps)

1. T. Sykes
2. R. Kiyonari (HM Plant Honda)
3. M. Rutter (Ridersmotorcycles.com Ducati)
4. M. Laverty (Relentless Suzuki)
5. J. Ellison (Swan Honda)
6. T. Hill (Crescent Suzuki)
7. S. Easton (Swan Honda)
8. Y. Kagayama (Crescent Suzuki)
9. D. Linfoot (Motorpoint Suzuki)
10. I. Lowry

RACE 3: Sunday 8 August (20 laps)

1. T. Sykes
2. R. Kiyonari (HM Plant Honda)
3. M. Rutter (Ridersmotorcycles.com Ducati)
4. T. Hill (Crescent Suzuki)
5. J. Ellison (Swan Honda)
6. J. Brookes (HM Plant Honda)
7. Y. Kagayama (Crescent Suzuki)
8. S. Easton (Swan Honda)
9. J. Laverty (Buildbase Kawasaki)
10. S. Andrews (MSS Colchester Kawasaki)
11. I. Lowry

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