ALL TO PLAY FOR; In association with STIHL Sykes vows the British title is not over ahead of World move

Huddersfield Daily Examiner (Huddersfield, England), Sept 17, 2008

Byline: By LINZI NICHOLSON Sports Reporter

TOM SYKES, who has just signed a deal to join World Superbike team Yamaha Motor Italia, was disappointed he couldn't reward his British Rizla Sukuki teamwith awin at Croft.

Sykes, 23, from Fenay Bridge, was narrowly beaten by HM Plant Honda rival Leon Haslam in the second race of the day while he finished third behind Leon Camier (Ducati) and Haslam in the opening race at the North Yorkshire circuit.

The result sees Sykes slip to third in the Bennetts British Superbike Championship, 98 points behind long-term leader and Sykes's former Stobart Honda teammate Shane 'Shakey' Byrne, while Haslam has edged four points in front of Tom in second.

The second race was one of the most exhilarating of the season and the result means the title fight moves on to Silverstone in two weeks time.

There was a dramatic dice starting on lap 14 between Haslam and Camier for third, with the Airwaves Ducati of Byrne taking advantage on the approach to the Complex.

But by lap 17 Haslam was able to make a move that stuck with three laps remaining, while Byrne was then fourth on the same lap and needed to secure nine points more than Sykes to be crowned 2008 Bennetts British Superbike Champion.

Haslam made his move on Sykes on the penultimate lap at Tower to move ahead and was able to hold off the challenges of the Rizla Suzuki to win his fourth race of the season.

On the final lap Byrne put pressure on Cal Crutchlow for the final podium position as he tried to close in on the title, but the HM Plant Honda rider put in a determined last lap to ensure he was back on the podium for the first time in five races.

Sykes said: "I just couldn't close down Leon (Haslam) on that last lap. It was strange really as I was feeling confident and I thought I could win that race.

"I struggled a bit in the last three laps but the Rizla Suzuki team transformed my bike between the races and I only wish I could have rewarded the boys with a win.

"It's tight in the race for second in the Championship and now I'm four points behind Haslam. I'll be looking to get those points back with interest at the next round and a slong as there is a mathemat ical chance of winning the Championship I amnot going to give up, it's still all to play for."

The penultimate round of the Bennetts British Superbike Championship takes place at Silverstone in two weeks time (September 26-28), ahead of the last meeting at Brands Hatch Indy circuit on October 10-12.

Race I: 1 Leon Camier (Ducati) 27:06.760, 2 Leon Haslam (Honda) 2.544, 3 Tom Sykes (Rizla Suzuki) 6.113, 4 Cal Crutchlow (Honda) 6.366, 5 Shane Byrne (Ducati) 6.581, 6Michael Rutter (Ducati) 13.889, 7 Michael Laverty (Suzuki) 19.031, 8 Karl Harris (Yamaha) 19.583, 9 James Ellison (Honda) 19.722, 10 Simon Andrews (Yamaha) 24.907.

Race II: 1 Leon Haslam (HM Plant Honda), 2 Tom Sykes (Rizla Suzuki) 1.133s, 3 Cal Crutchlow (HM Plant Honda) 1.614s, 4 Shane Byrne (Airwaves Ducati) 1.864s, 5 Leon Camier (Airwaves Ducati) 3.740s, 6.

Michael Rutter (North West 200 Ducati) 9.788s, 7 James Ellison (Hydrex Bike Animal Honda) 17.037s, 8 Karl Harris (Rob Mac Racing Yamaha) 18.735s, 9 Simon Andrews (Lloyds British Yamaha) 19.893s, 10 Michael Laverty (Relentless Suzuki by TAS) 21.857s.

Bennetts British Superbike Championship standings after Croft: 1 Shane Byrne (Airwaves Ducati) 388pts, 2 Leon Haslam (HM Plant Honda) 294, 3 Tom Sykes (Rizla Suzuki) 290, 4 Cal Crutchlow (HM Plant Honda) 265, 5 Leon Camier (Airwaves Ducati) 241.

CAPTION(S):

WORLD IN MOTION: Tom Sykes, of Fenay Bridge, picked up two podium places at Croft and with two BSB meetings remaining, he is aiming to sign off with Rizla Suzuki on a high before stepping up to join World Superbike team Yamaha Motor Italia. Pictures by Turn One Photography