WSBK » Sykes: I know people want my ride

Knowing is half the battle isn't it.

Well look at it this way, in all likelyhood your teamate will be opening up a spot on the team when he leaves for MotoGP so that's room for one more right there. HA! jk.

But seriously though, am I slightly disappointed in his progress thus far? somewhat yes. I'll say this much for him he's technically been more consistent than his teamate, however consistency without ever putting it up on the box won't win you a championship.

I wonder if this isn't the same situation with Fabrizio being teamed up with Bayliss?

Regardless I do wish I could see 2 Yamaha's running up front as a joint team effort as we often see the red bikes doing.

Here's hoping.

You guys have tremedously short memories. All this talk about wins and "putting it on the box". Take out this year with Spies and what WSBK rookie without international experience has done that? Who? Vermulen, Biaggi, Barros, and Checa had the international exprience. Yukio placed 5th in 2005 and that's around where Sykes will finish. You guys act like WSBK is a place where rookie just come in a string up podium after podium.

Sykes problem is that Spies has warped everyone's expectations. At the beginning of the year if someone said Sykes would be 7th behind the riders that he is behind and fighting for his job you would have thought that was crazy.

I sincerely hope he keeps his ride with Yamaha for next year, i think it would be very un fair to get rid of him after a year, but then what is fair in racing?

I have to agree with Raw Dawg.
Sykes is doing very well. He's in 7th and out of 4th place by 36 pts.
There's still more races for him to show his stuff.

Sykes is a good rider but his team mate is so good its making Sykes look very average. Then you've got Camier on a similar bike blitzing everything in BSB. Truth is that R1 is a podium bike. Tom needs to find a couple of top 3 finishes or people will talk ......

RawDawg: It's not just Spies that's warped the expectations of Sykes--Camier & Ellison are dominating BSB on the same bike. Plus, folks are also comparing him to last season when he posted two impressive wild card finishes. Add it all together and he's underperforming.

Now, to his defense, the pace in BSB isn't even close to that in WSBK this season. We're seeing a lot of track records tumble. Put Sykes back in BSB with this bike and he'd probably be acheiving similar results to the Airwaves boys.

Sykes will get there if he's given the opportunity. On a side note: if Yamaha let's him go, I think Suzuki should snatch him up instantly.

Sykes is having a "good" rookie year while Haslam & Rea are having "great" rookie years in WSBK. Spies is having an "unbelievable" rookie year.

This makes Sykes look comparatively bad, unfairly so.

But there will be a lot of riders that would like that second spot on the Yamaha team, perhaps jilted MotoGP riders (Toseland or Hayden?) or WSBK regulars that have lesser rides this year.

Wouldn't be at all surprised to see Sykes sacked or demoted at the end of the year.

@ Bliz: That's a good point you make about BSB this year. BSB lost too many top riders last year and it shows. Too many "old" riders on good bikes. You can't take it away from Camier tho, he's not just winning he's thrashing the field and his team mate easily and you can understand people saying he's be better than Skyes in WSBK

I have to agree that spies has altered everyone's expectations this year! Sykes is doing a good job and eventually will find his way. The guy is young and is just learning most of these tracks. It would be a shame for Yamaha to broom him after failing to set the world alight in his rookie year. That being said WSBK is going to be a crucible of world class talent next year! I would bet that at least a few MotoGP guys already are, or soon will be eyeing a seat here. Crutchlow and Laverty are looking likely to move up. Hacking, Young and Cardenas will all likely be attempting to run from the AMA (who wouldn't) as well. Perhaps even a few 250 guys not intent with moto2 as well. Fun stuff!

"Sykes problem is that Spies has warped everyone's expectations."

I tend to agree with you there Rawr. Kinda reminds me of Corsers season last year. Does anyone even remember he actually came 2nd in the Championship? but I bet if you were to ask, most would say he had a forgettable season.

I'd also say it isn't even just Spies that's warping peoples opinion. Look at Lorenzo, in his first season he was battling for wins straight out of the gate. So yeah I think that's sorta everyone's expectation pretty much.

That having been said I suppose if we were to use that type of measuring stick then Byrne would be the greatest disappointment of all being the former BSB champ.