WSBK Chang, Thailand: Sykes: Thailand is a circuit which should suit us…

Tom Sykes says the Thailand round of the World Superbike championship is one which should play to his Kawasaki’s strengths at the Chang International Circuit. The Kawasaki Racing Team rider is looking to put the frustrations of the season opener behind him, where he slipped from a podium place in the closing laps of each race at Phillip Island to fifth in race one and sixth in race two, and repeat last year’s trick by claiming his first podium of the new season in Thailand.

After impressing during pre-season testing, the 2013 World Superbike champion has consistently demonstrated his hot single lap pace on the new Kawasaki ZX-10R, by also taking Superpole in Australia, and hopes the Buriram circuit’s characteristics work to his favour this weekend.

“Chang International Circuit, on paper, is a circuit that could really suit us so I am excited to go there again,” Sykes said. “I got a podium finish although it was not that good to us in one of the races last year, but it is a different prospect this year.

“I remember in 2015 that we had great spectators in the circuit and it was a layout that I enjoyed riding around. This year we have an even better ZX-10R so I am hopeful heading to Thailand.”

Despite it still being very early days in the 2016 WSBK season Sykes has a sizeable 29-point gap to bridge to team-mate Jonathan Rea who enjoyed a near-flawless opening round by taking a thrilling double win in Australia last month.