SYKES PODIUMS AT DONINGTON
 Tom
Sykes pulled off a spectacular third place podium finish for
Rizla Suzuki after starting from 13th on the grid at round
four of the Bennetts British Superbike Championship at Donington
Park.
The Huddersfield rider got off the line well and immediately
slotted into sixth place in the blustery conditions at the
2.5-mile GP circuit. He rode hard putting in consistently
fast lap times and picking off other riders to achieve his
second podium finish of the year. In race two he finished
in a close sixth place after being baulked by slower riders
early on.
Sykes's team mate Atsushi Watanabe, starting from 22nd place
on the grid, finished 17th in race one and 13th in race two.
The two-time Japanese Superbike Champion had his work cut
out for him with the high winds but knuckled down to the job
in hand and moved forward through the pack as both races unfolded.
Rizla Suzuki now travels to Snetterton in Norfolk for the
fifth round of the British Superbike Championship in three
weeks time on June 15th.
Tom Sykes:
"I've got mixed feelings from today. Obviously I'm
delighted with my podium finish as that is where my Rizla
Suzuki team and I should be finishing. Starting from the fourth
row of the grid isn't ideal as I usually aim to be on the
front row. However in the first race I got away well and battled
in the lead group. As for race two; I got a bit beaten up
into the first turn and then got caught behind a slower rider
who was holding me up. The high winds weren't helping matters
either. The podium was encouraging but I still want to do
better for myself and my Rizla Suzuki team."
Atsushi Watanabe:
"Today was very hard work. It was very windy and I
had a lot of riders to try and pass. My aim was to be top
10 but that didn't happen. Next time at Snetterton I hope
I can get a better result in both qualifying and the race."
Jack Valentine - Rizla Suzuki Team Manager:
"Once again Tom showed what he is capable of: His Rizla
Suzuki is working well and we know we have a competitive package.
Where we qualified did have an impact on both our races but
all in all I was impressed with Tom's superb riding and he
made the best of the situation.
"Atsu had a baptism of fire here at Donington with the
difficult weather conditions and getting used to the circuit.
I had high hopes for him breaking into the top 10 and with
a better grid position then I'm sure it would have happened.
He has a strong work ethic and will use this as a learning
experience before we move on to the next round at Snetterton."
Race one results:
1: Shane Byrne (Ducati) 32:01.058
2: Leon Haslam (Honda) +2.473
3: Tom Sykes (Rizla Suzuki) +3.442
4: James Ellison (Honda) +5.856
5: Leon Camier (Ducati) +6.188
6: Cal Crutchlow (Honda) +6.636
7: Karl Harris (Yamaha) +7.464
8: Michael Rutter (Ducati) +9.809
9: Michael Laverty (Suzuki) +12.627
10: Simon Andrews (Yamaha) +16.246
17: Atsushi Watanabe (Rizla Suzuki) +28.003
Race two results:
1: Shane Byrne (Ducati) 31:06.337
2: Leon Haslam (Honda) +0.355
3: Cal Crutchlow (Honda) +1.447
4: Leon Camier (Ducati) +1.596
5: James Ellison (Honda) +4.186
6: Tom Sykes (Rizla Suzuki) +7.446
7: Karl Harris (Yamaha) +15.703
8: Michael Rutter (Ducati) +26.794
9: Simon Andrews (Yamaha) +31.816
10: Gary Mason (Honda) +32.870
13: Atsushi Watanabe (Rizla Suzuki)
Championship Standings
1: Shane Byrne (Ducati) 190
2: Cal Crutchlow (Honda) 122
3: Leon Camier (Ducati) 107
4: Leon Haslam (Honda) 96
5: James Ellison (Honda) 88
6: Michael Rutter (Ducati) 82
7: Tom Sykes (Rizla Suzuki) 75
8: Stuart Easton (Kawasaki) 62
9: Michael Laverty (Suzuki) 59
10: Simon Andrews (Honda) 37
15: Atsushi Watanabe (Rizla Suzuki) 19
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