Sykes' best finish in a BSB so far this year has been a fifth, and he now lags in ninth place in the points table, with only 29 points to the 95 of leader Shane Byrne. It may already be too late for Sykes to dream of winning the title this year, but he should start winning races soon.
Saturday am - Crutchlow Gets Green Light
Cal Crutchlow has been given the green light by medial authorities to take part in today's two free practice sessions for the Bennetts British Superbike Championship at Brands Hatch, and in tomorrow's two championship races.
"They're very impressed with his recovery and his mobility," HM Plant Honda team manager Havier Beltran said.
"The work that he's done during the week with Damien Delahunty, the first team physio at Coventry City Football Club, has been a massive factor in this."
Crutchlow now faces the challenge of catching the two Airwaves Ducati riders, Shane Byrne and Leon Camier, who are leading the championship.
Saturday am - Battered Crutchlow Seeks Permission to Race at Brands
Cal Crutchlow, the 22-year-old HM Plant Honda rider who crashed twice at
Oulton Park last weekend, will learn this morning whether he can take part in today's free practice sessions for the third round of the Bennetts British Superbike Championship at
Brands Hatch.
Crutchlow and team manager Havier Beltran will seek confirmation from medical authorities that it is safe for Crutchlow to ride despite carrying injuries to both ankles. He has dislocated his right ankle, has a slight fracture to it, and has ruptured the front two ligaments.
"The ligament damage is quite severe," Beltran said outside the HM Plant garage at Brands. "Sometimes dislocating an ankle can be worse than breaking it. But he's walking around OK and is wearing an air cast. If he races he won't wear the cast, but Spidi have sent over a new boot for him to wear. It gives a rider more ankle support."
