Sykes to leave Kawasaki

Briton Tom Sykes will part ways with Kawasaki’s world superbike team at the end of the 2018 season, ending a collaboration that reached its zenith with title success in 2013.

“I feel the time has arrived; the moment to make a change in my career and seek new challenges,” said Sykes.

“Having the motivation to push to your limits and that of your machine is all the more important when you look for the victory at every race and I feel I have given all I can within KRT. I am now the best rider I have ever been, and I have the experience and performance to keep winning.”

After signing with the Japanese manufacturer back in 2010, Sykes spent a season learning and developing the ZX-10R, securing his debut pole position around Imola and finishing in 14th position overall. Making bigger steps in 2011, his first victory came at Nurburgring, but it was the 2012 season that ignited his Kawasaki career.

With 13 podiums, four victories and nine pole positions in just one year, the Yorkshire grinner had well and truly arrived on the Ninja machine and was a championship contender – finally securing the crown in 2013.

The 32-year-old has racked up 34 wins, 106 podiums and a record-breaking 46 pole positions in Kawasaki colours.

“Now I have decided to make a step away from the KRT project for 2019 and look for new goals and challenges,” continues Sykes.

“I will now concentrate to finish on the podium for the last four rounds of 2018. I am determined to enjoy my racing and making this announcement effectively ends all speculation.

“The timing of this big career decision is never easy but it is especially difficult as my personal life also faces big changes. Regarding this I feel the weight of pressure has been slightly lifted from my shoulders and I am sure 2019 will allow me to operate at full capacity.”

Where to for Sykes? Yamaha's factory team has just extended the contracts of Alex Lowes and Michael van der Mark, so that door is closed, while the likes of Honda, Ducati and Aprilia are yet to fully show their hand.

And the rider market is tight, with Spaniard Alvaro Bautista apparently considering a switch to the production-based series now that his options to remain in MotoGP appear to have been exhausted.