Sykes splits with Puccetti Kawasaki after four rounds of 2023
The British rider endured a tough start to the 2023 campaign with just a single point from four rounds
After four rounds of the 2023 MOTUL FIM Superbike World Championship, Tom Sykes and Kawasaki Puccetti Racing have announced their split after a difficult start to the season which did not yield the results either party desired. Only one point was scored in the 12 races so far with technical issues hampering their results throughout the season so far, with Sykes only finishing in half of the races run and scoring only a single point.
Sykes returned to WorldSBK and Kawasaki for the 2023 campaign after a year in the British Superbike championship, with Sykes reunited with the manufacturer he took his one WorldSBK title with back in 2013. His best result this season has been a 15th place at Assen in Race 2, with the 2013 Champion not classified in six of the 12 races this season. After the difficult start to the season, Sykes and Kawasaki Puccetti Racing have agreed to part ways.
Discussing his departure from Puccetti Kawasaki, Sykes said: “I had no hesitation in joining the Kawasaki Puccetti team and helping them with the refinement of their Ninja ZX-10RR package. I hope all the data I helped them accumulate over testing and the first races of the season pushes them closer to winning races in the future.”
Team Principal Manuel Puccetti was full of praise for Sykes with the hope that his feedback can spur the team on even without Sykes on the bike. He said: “My team, staff and sponsors were honoured to have Tom join us to start the season. As a former World Champion and multiple race winner, his insight has really taken our understanding of the Ninja to the next level. Now he leaves us, and we thank him for all his knowledge and for sharing so much information.”
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