printBritish Supersport Championship – Round 12, Croft
Tom Sykes battled bravely in what can only be described as treacherous race conditions
to register his fifth British Supersport podium of the season. After qualifying
on pole position, Sykes who turns twenty-one later this week, led into the
first corner only to join six other riders in the gravel trap on a greasy and
damp Croft circuit.
The race was red flagged and re-started with the whole grid then opting for a
full wet set up. It was that man Sykes who again took to the front for the opening
couple of laps before being passed by Sean Emmett and Eugene Laverty. While others
pushed beyond the limit ending their day prematurely, Tom rode a mature race
bringing the Pirelli shod TAS Suzuki home in second place, also taking second
place in the championship to boot.
Team mate Ian Lowry, who has had very little wet weather track time on the TAS
Suzuki machinery qualified in 10th place holding his position in the race to
take another six valuable points – he now sits in 9th place in the series.
Tom Sykes
“I was a bit frightened at the start of the weekend with my lap times but
after the second session we were on the pace and I was happy with my race set
up which felt great. I was really confident of taking the win in dry conditions
but the wet weather threw a spanner in the works and I’m please with another
podium nonetheless. No one had any wet weather set up and to lead on the first
few laps pushed me into the guinea pig role! I ‘smoked’ the other
Pirelli runners in the race but couldn’t hold onto Emmett or Laverty. Laverty
went down with a couple of laps to go but I didn’t need to push any harder
with Leon Camier over ten seconds behind me. I may be 60 points behind Cal in
the championship but with 100 still to play for I’ll keep piling on the
pressure.”
Ian Lowry
“It was one of those weekends when you just had to hang in there and battle
for points without sticking it in the gravel. As Tom said, no one had any wet
set up so I just rode round and watched everyone else trip themselves up. I have
maintained 9th place in the championship and scored yet another top ten finish
on the TAS Suzuki, so I’m happy enough.”
Philip Neill
“What do we have to do to get that win this year! Tom was very strong in
qualifying, but it took a mature performance to pick himself up, run back to
the garage and then ride a wet race with virtually no wet set up. He was head
and shoulders above the other Pirelli runners in the race and his fifth podium
of the season just demonstrated how consistent he has become. Ian put the ‘old
head’ on his young shoulders as well this weekend, and along with Pirelli
and Suzuki I think we did a great job. We now have a bike which is on a par with
anything else out there and I’m sure Tom will get that victory before the
end of the year.”
13 July 2006