Two wins for Sykes as KRT dominate Misano podiums
Double one-two for the Brit and Baz, Salom heads EVO field.
Tom Sykes (Kawasaki Racing Team) grew his career total of WSB wins to 20 today after taking two clear victories in the 21-lap Superbike races at Misano. Each time he headed up his own team-mate Loris Baz by one place in the results on a great day for the official Kawasaki riders. The joy of the KRT team was boundless when David Salom (KRT SBK EVO) headed the EVO field in both races at Misano, extending his championship lead in the EVO classification.
Tom Sykes: “I am very pleasantly surprised at these results but I knew that the adrenaline and the concentration would give me something extra. It all went to plan in race one. I knew I had some limitation all weekend and I said that to my crew chief, and what the issues were. After that you need to get on and do the job. The lap times were quite surprising at the start and my pace too. The front and rear were moving a lot but the feedback from the bike was fantastic, so I have to thank Marcel and Danilo and all the mechanics for that. In race two it was even more difficult, I had to stay focused but at the end the control of the second race was probably a bit more relaxed than in race one.”
Loris Baz: “I think on Sunday Tom was just too fast and I could not go with him in each race. In the first race I thought I could but after ten laps I could see he was faster. In race two Tom was faster from the beginning. I had Marco Melandri behind me in that race and kept him behind. I am really happy to have done that because he tried to pass a few times. We know how experienced he is so I think that is the best race I have ever done. I did not make any mistakes so it was hard for him to overtake me. I am really happy and I cannot wait for the next race at Portimao as I am sure that first win of the season will come pretty soon.”
David Salom: “We finished twice as best classified in the EVO class but it was very hard. The end of the first race was perfect for us, we made a good start and in the first laps I followed Canepa and Baiocco but at the end I passed Canepa and pushed hard. I took a good advantage then and I pushed all the way. In race two it was more difficult because some other riders were strong and fast and I had a very good fight. I knew if I pushed very hard at the end I could not be passed before the line. It ended up a very good day for Kawasaki.”
