Until Sunday, Tom Sykes had not won a World Superbike race since Laguna Seca in 2014. The 2013 World Champion is now on two victories for the 2015 season, having done the double at Donington for the third season in a row.

“A full set this weekend: two race wins, pole position and a new lap record,” reflected Sykes, who has become the first rider ever to win six consecutive races at the East Midlands-based circuit. “After some battles in Race 1 I had a clean start in Race 2 and I went a little bit faster down the Craner Curves and into the Old Hairpin to stop any passes, and away we went.

“The bike was really nice and I did some 1’27’s at the beginning. When I saw that the gap was increasing, I just had to be careful in how to manage the race. I was really happy with the race performance because Marcel (Duinker), my crew chief, and all the boys have been working really well. It is good to win all the last six races here at Donington but there is no real reason why. We are getting there now and I am able to do a little bit more of what I want to with the bike, and it showing.”

Third in the Riders’ Championship, Sykes is now just one point behind second-placed Leon Haslam as the season moves on to Portugal in two weekends’ time.