Sykes pleased with gap to Rea after one afternoon testing

Tom Sykes, the 2013 WorldSBK Champion when he was an official KRT rider, had a first test on the Kawasaki Puccetti Racing ZX-10RR he will ride in 2023 during a short test at Jerez yesterday.

The supposed two-day test proved to be largely an afternoon affair on the final day only, for Sykes as well as most of the very few other riders there.

Jonathan Rea and Alex Lowes (KRT) plus two-day rider Scott Redding (BMW M1000RR) were the only other regular WorldSBK riders on show. Rea was fastest, Redding second on the newly homologated racebike (complete with big aero changes), Lowes placed third and then Sykes was fourth fastest - but just over a second from Rea’s fastest time.

Not bad for a rider on a privateer bike, in his first tricky and weather complicated test session with factory bikes as his only reference.

Of the overall WorldSBK comeback experience, Sykes told bikesportnews.com, “It was nice to be on familiar territory. The test itself, honestly? I was talking to a friend before the test and he asked me my expectations. I gave him my answer, and we went past that answer.

“I am really happy, to be honest, because all things considered, it was really nice to get to work with all the Kawasaki Puccetti Racing team to start the relationship. And just really try to understand some key points. Unfortunately there was a bit of disturbance from track conditions.

“The test was very compressed but, honestly, I was pleasantly surprised with the end result. From here we know we have got a clear plan. Overall, we know where we can work forward now. I am happy and looking forward to more time with the team and track time with the bike in the next test.”

Being only just over a second from Rea, who had set a 1’39.911 best lap, Sykes