Sykes reflects on what might have been
It was a tough end to the season for the KRT man as a crash at Losail ended the final race of the season early for him
Tom Sykes (Kawasaki Racing Team) unfortunately crashed out from a podium position early in the final race of the 2017 season at the Acerbis Qatar Round on Saturday, meaning his campaign ended with a DNF result.
As he battled to outscore Chaz Davies (Aruba.it Racing - Ducati) in the final standings - and finish the season in second place overall - his hopes were dashed after he fell on lap three, at turn 14, leaving his Kawasaki machine too badly damaged to continue. Sykes therefore finished his season third overall in the rankings, with 373 points.
“I’m absolutely ok,” said the Yorkshireman after he crashed out of Race 2. “My gear did its job, Dainese and Shark did their job and I have walked away from that one. There is nothing much to say really, I am just disappointed. We made some small steps with the bike, it felt better than it has done all weekend and I am confident that the bike even if it wasn’t quick on initial lap time, if there’s one thing for certain it would have stayed flat for the race.”
Sykes continued, “So I was excited after the first couple of laps, but unfortunately it’s a small error, I ran maybe 2cm tighter, just touched a white line on a fast turn. There was obviously a little bit of sand on there and I lost the front traction at full lean angle. It is small mistake with a big consequence and it is not the way I wanted to end the season. Fighting for the second spot in the championship might have been a tall order looking at where Chaz finished. But 2017 is finished so we are happy to put it in a box and start again for next season.”
