Sykes ‘ready for action’ following ankle recovery

Tom Sykes is confident of returning to World Superbike action without any lasting issues despite suffering an ankle injury just over three weeks ago.

The Kawasaki rider was forced to miss the Portimao test last month due to a training incident in which he sustained ankle ligament damage.

Sykes says the usual recovery timeframe given by doctors is four to six weeks but is assured he’ll be fit enough to contest the full Portimao race weekend after recovering in almost half that time.

“The group of people working around me, doctors and so on, have done an absolutely fantastic job to make sure I am ready for this weekend,” Sykes said. “Given the kind of injury I had it could so easily have been in a cast and taken four to six weeks to heal.

“But here we are at not even week four and I have been out enjoying some time on my bicycle.

“All things considered, we are doing not too badly. I am really looking forward to getting on the race bike.

“On the first few laps I will probably just feel my way in and make sure that my body, and especially my ankle, are ready for action. After that I will build the speed and get down to business.”

Sykes is also looking to secure his future in the coming weeks having confirmed he will leave the factory Kawasaki squad in World Superbikes – with the British rider linked to the Ten Kate-racing run Honda squad and GRT Yamaha with the latter expected to step up to WorldSBK next year. Sykes has also been reported as a target in the BSB paddock for 2019.

The 2013 World Superbike champion is currently fourth in the riders’ standings, 152 points off team-mate and championship leader Jonathan Rea with Chaz Davies and Michael van der Mark splitting the pair.