News

The seventh round of the eni FIM Superbike World Championship offers KRT SBK riders Tom Sykes and Loris Baz more chances of podium success, on the return of the Misano World Circuit to the calendar. EVO rider David Salom aims to edge again the rest of the field in category races this weekend, as he enjoys the championship lead in this class-within-a-class.

Sykes enters the Misano round 13 points in the lead in the championship fight on his official Ninja ZX-10R and having scored four race wins so far. In terms of previous Misano circuit experience Sykes has visited the track on four previous occasions, all in the Superbike class. Tom has enjoyed two Superpole qualifying successes at the Misano circuit, in 2011 and 2012.

For 21-year-old Frenchman Baz a first race win of 2014 has proved elusive so far, but he has scored five podiums and is currently fourth in the championship fight.  During his single previous SBK class visit to Misano Baz made two race starts in the 2012 season and this prior knowledge will help him find an optimum bike set-up to take on one of the most intense circuits on the SBK calendar.

At Misano David Salom has been a regular rider in different classes and despite the lingering effects of injury to his throttle hand he is out to try and win in the EVO category again, as he did in race one at the previous round in Sepang.

Tom Sykes: “In the combination of myself, the bike and the team I feel confident that we can be competitive anywhere. My hand is slowly improving and we are back on track this weekend, so we will see how we go for the races on Sunday. Misano is not the most enjoyable layout as a rider because it is very small and there is not so much room to let the Ninja ZX-10R get rolling. It is the same for everybody, however, and I feel have ridden well there in the past. Will try to ride well there once more this weekend.”

Loris Baz: “I really like the Misano track simply because I have always felt quite strong there. I am really looking forward to going to the racing weekend after a disappointing weekend in the previous round at Malaysia. We have start the good work again, get back onto the podium and then take the first win. Misano is totally different from Sepang and I am sure we can go well there because we have been fast from Aragon to Donington, which are very different to each other.”

David Salom: “In Misano it is always very hot but I am sure it will be better than the heat in Malaysia! There are maybe five or six hard braking areas on the Misano layout, plus many changes of direction, so it is tough track for these aspects. I am feeling OK for the weekend because I have changed my training routine a little recently, to try and help my injured right hand recover. We just want to concentrate to win the races as they come along because if you win all the races you will win the championship.”