TOM SYKES was anxious to point to the positives at World Superbike round 11 despite a weekend of huge potential ultimately ending in disappointment.

After claiming his debut World Superbike win last time out in Germany the Huddersfield rider carried on where he left off in qualifying at the Imola circuit, occupying a front-row berth.

And despite the rain of the Nurburgring being replaced by blazing sunshine in Italy Sykes looked set to make it back-to-back wins when he led the race for much of the opening four laps.

However, that early promise ultimately proved to be a false dawn with Sykes slipping to an agonising fourth when champion-elect Carlos Checa mugged him on the final lap.

That sense of a missed opportunity was mirrored in the second race of the day when Sykes – again in the hunt for a podium berth – was forced to retire with machinery issues.

As a result his smile was somewhat forced in Italy as the Kawasaki racer reflected on a weekend of what-if’s.

“We got a fourth position in dry weather and just missed the podium,” Sykes said.

“I feel we would have been able to take a podium in race two as well. It was a massive call to pull out but apart from that we have found some speed in the dry and been riding well.

“We are still working very well as a team and been consistently in the top five all weekend, which is very positive.”

Sykes’ 13 points garnered from his fourth-place finish in the opening race leaves him down in 12th in the overall standings, 11 points shy of Jonathan Rea, one of the race winners at the Italian track.

There is a quick turnaround for the Huddersfield ace with the penultimate round at Magny Cours coming this weekend.

And despite his Italian experience leaving him with a sour taste in the mouth the 26-year-old is still itching to get back on the bike in France as soon as possible.

“We are building on our positives and looking forward to France,” added Sykes. “I had an unfortunate brake problem; a little bit of a negative feeling with the brake so I could not go on with the race.”

WSB races will be shown on British Eurosport, with all European rounds in HD. British Eurosport – Sky channel 410 & Virgin Media 521. Eurosport HD is on Sky 412 & Virgin Media 522. Watch races live online at www.eurosportplayer.co.uk