BSB expectations ‘not possible’ for Sykes but ‘Ducati potential very high’

Tom Sykes was back at WorldSBK last weekend and while not lining up on the grid he was more than making up for it as an enthusiastic spectator.

“It’s fantastic [to be back]” the 2013 World Champion commented trackside from Donington Park. “I love to be in this circuit. Even though I’m only spectating I’m still having a great weekend. I would certainly love to be riding but it is what it is and I’m enjoying the experience.”

Currently racing in the Bennetts British Superbike Championship for Paul Bird’s MCE Ducati squad, it’s safe to say the results have been less than expected from the much-touted partnership. Four rounds in, Sykes sits 14th in the 2022 standings on 47 points, 30 behind teammate Josh Brookes, in ninth.

“Yes, it’s disappointing,” the Yorkshireman said simply. “Absolutely not what I expect and I’m sure it’s not what PBM experts, certainly myself, I do not expect this but it’s not for no reason.

“Without going into detail, it’s not possible to do what I expect in this moment in time.

“People are going to compare that they’re beating Tom Sykes in BSB so they can run here in World Superbikes but it’s not the case. It’s not the case. For example, we’ve seen a British champion come here this weekend on a bike that he knows, and a circuit he knows, tyres he knows and we can all see the situation. So no, it’s wrong for people to think like that and for that reason it doesn’t bother me when I sleep at night.

“What does bother me is that it’s not what I expect because the potential of myself and the bike, like we saw in Misano testing. Like we’ve seen when I’ve done a little bit of riding, the potential is very high and it’s to the level of, essentially, running at the front of World Superbike. For whatever reason