After recently starting his 200th WorldSBK race, KRT rider Tom Sykes has signed a further 2 year contract with the Japanese factory to stay on the ZX-10R for another two seasons. Sykes, who completed his Misano weekend with two second places from pole, will continue as a key member of the Kawasaki team both on and off track.

Sykes has now taken 30 race wins, and all but one of his 76 career podium finishes, on ZX-10R machines. Sykes has also set the second highest ever record of Superpole qualifying wins, which reached 36 at the most recent round in Misano, and has set 29 fastest laps during WorldSBK races.

In making a new agreement with Kawasaki’s official squad Sykes is now intent on continuing his career at the highest level of production-derived racing, with the most successful WorldSBK team and machine of recent seasons. Once more the Yorkshireman will join up alongside his current KRT team-mate Jonathan Rea, who also recently re-signed for the same two year period.

“I am really excited to have made a further commitment with KRT and KHI. It’s a great feeling to be back with such a great team for another two years. We have already shown the capabilities of the latest model Ninja ZX-10R this season and there is a lot of potential still to come from the bike. I would like to thank KHI for showing their continued commitment to me as a rider. As well as the bike and the on-track performance I have been part of the Kawasaki family for seven years so it was really natural to continue that relationship. To carry on working with my dedicated crew - Marcel, Danilo, Mattia, Raul, Tambu and Ruben and all my other valued colleagues and friends in the team - was priceless as they are widely recognised as the pick of the crop in the WorldSBK paddock. I get so much support from the brilliant fans and passionate Kawasaki owners that it was also a positive decision to make to remain part of that. Another important thing is to continue the development programme, for the road bike and the race bike side of things, which is something I feel an integral part of. The technical aspect of working with the team and KHI is deeply satisfying to me, not just the successes on track.”

Guim Roda, KRT Team Manager, stated: “Tom signing for two more years with Kawasaki is a very nice point to continue our project from, while also developing the latest Ninja ZX-10R until 2018. This is a part of Kawasaki’s strategy - to have two top riders inside KRT project - and now we can say proudly that we still have the two best riders in the WorldSBK championship. It has been a longer negotiation with Tom because he has been with Kawasaki for seven years - two with PBM and five with KRT - and there’s always some private and personal points we have to respect when a rider thinks about taking such a important decision. Tom always said from the beginning his first wish was to continue in the Kawasaki family, so we are happy he can trust in the new ZX-10R and KRT staff to get what he expects. I personally think that the best of Tom Sykes is yet to come.”

KRT will test on Monday 20th June at Misano World Circuit Marco Simoncelli, before Sykes and teammate Rea set sail forLaguna Seca in California, intent on taking another double podium finish before the summer break.