“I’m encouraged by our pace this year,” said the Yorkshireman. “In three corners I suffered to keep with my teammate and that’s how he was able to get the gap but I think we’ve both learnt things for tomorrow.”

Sykes scored his first podium of 2016 in Race 1, and crossed the line very close to his teammate Jonathan Rea. “Now it’s a case of having one night to think about it, and certainly I know I’ll improve my bike and I’m sure they’ll do the same on the other side of the garage.

“I’m pleased, compared to last year we were much, much stronger,” added Sykes. “I’m relatively happy and honestly speaking it would have been a big ask to overhaul Jonathan on the last lap, but two tenths is a start.”

Sunday will see lights go out at 4pm (9am GMT) for Race 2, where today’s frontrunners have another shot at denying Rea the chance at becoming the first rider since 2003 to win the opening four races of the season.