Sykes dominant at Donington — again
Has now won eight world superbike races in a row at the East Midlands circuit, and has moved back up to second in the championship behind teammate Jonathan ReaKawasaki’s Tom Sykes has now become the most successful rider in world superbike history at Donington after his fourth successive clean sweep on the weekend of May 28-29.
Sykes won the opener from Davide Giugliano (Ducati) and Jonathan Rea (Kawasaki), and in the second 23-lapper he again got the job done from Rea and Chaz Davies (Ducati).
Davies crashed in the opener, and has now dropped back to third in the championship on 231pts behind Rea (292) and Sykes (237). Giugliano (147pts) and Honda's Michael van der Mark (141) are fourth and fifth.
“Eight in a row at Donington feels fantastic and I am over the moon," said Sykes. "I had a good start to race two and had good pace. For sure it was not perfect and for sure that is why we had a lot of pressure. We did a very good job and had to fight again, so it is more rewarding when you win like this. I am grateful to Kawasaki.. and all the boys in the garage because we have won three of the last four races, which is quite promising.
"We have won on some difficult circuits this year, physically and from a point of view of the types of tracks. Thailand, Sepang and two times here — which is a circuit of two halves. Consistently, I think we are getting better. I am going to bed tonight thinking we have had a perfect weekend.”
Aussies Ant West (Kawasaki, 9-12) and Josh Brookes (BMW, 14-9) also made it into the top 10 at Donington, and Brookes' speed was particularly impressive in race two as he continues to get more comfortable with the S 1000 RR.
West was again deputising for the injured Sylvain Barrier, and it's unclear whether he'll again be riding the ZX-10R at the next round in Misano from June 17-19.
In world supersport, the most successful rider of all time, four-time champion Kenan Sofuoglu, took another win in a supreme display on his Kawasaki, ahead of PJ Jacobsen (Honda) and Randy Krummenacher (Kawasaki).
Aussies Aiden Wagner (MV Agusta) and Lachlan Epis (Kawasaki) were 19th and 28th respectively, while Glenn Scott (Honda) tried to make a return from a broken leg but the pain was too much to start the race.
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