“Disappointed” Sykes left searching for answers

Tom Sykes says his Kawasaki Racing Team “never got the answer” to his cornering issues with the ZX-10RR at Aragon’s long and sweeping turns which left him powerless against his front-running rivals.

After a frustrating sixth place in the race one at the Spanish circuit, Sykes aimed to make the most of his promoted grid starting position on the front row thanks to the race two rules but ended up going back through the field in the early stages.

Sykes produced a spirited late race attack to take another sixth place finish but accepts it was his maximum with his current feeling on the ZX-10RR after struggling with cornering issues.

“I am really suffering with turning the bike and it is a shame,” Sykes said. “We are good in some areas but overall, in the long corners, I really suffered in turning and finishing off the corner. It is disappointing but I suppose it has been one of those weekends.

“We never got the answer and the race set-up. I am surprised at this because on Friday we had something but obviously everybody else has improved and we didn’t.

“I had some limit on the front tyre but overall we just missed a little bit of turning and I was not able to utilise the full grip from the rear tyre because of this. I could not get much more from myself and I am disappointed for this.”

Sykes did move up to sixth place in the World Superbike riders’ championship due to the injury absence of Red Bull Honda’s Leon Camier but is already 51 points behind teammate and championship leader Jonathan Rea.