Sykes goes one better than last year as he takes the 2013 title
Five years have passed since Tom Sykes (Kawasaki Racing Team) joined the SBK paddock for his rookie campaign. The 28 year old from Huddersfield, England, has built speed upon speed, ultimately clinching his first-ever eni FIM Superbike World Championship title last Sunday, at 12:36 and 42 seconds, when he crossed the line in third place in Race 1 at Jerez. In that very moment all the pressure disappeared and Sykes could finally let his emotions out.
"I've done my best out there all year", said Tom after the race. "I'm over the moon, so emotional and I shed a few tears on the slow-down lap, too. I made lots of sacrifices to get here and I finally made it, and what a feeling it is. Hats off to the guys in front of me, they did what they had to do but luckily this is our moment. After getting so close to the title last year, I'm not going to thank everyone, they know who they are and I'll catch up with them personally. I've been waiting for this for a long time."
Tom Sykes joins the WSBK elite as the 15th different Champion, and the fourth from Great Britain after Carl Fogarty (1994-1995-1998-1999), Neil Hodgson (2003) and James Toseland (2004-2007). Here are some numbers from his impressive season: 8 Tissot-Superpoles, 9 race wins, 18 podiums and 13 fastest laps in the races. Sykes scored an average of 16.5 points per race, including only 2 DNFs, leading for 255 laps overall (Championship runner-up Eugene Laverty led for 119). Furthermore, Sykes set the new best lap on six tracks in 2013.
Tom Sykes will be defending the eni FIM superbike World Championship title next year once again aboard the Kawasaki Racing Team ZX-10R, with Frenchman Loris Baz as team mate.
