Huddersfield super racer Tom Sykes is setting his sights on a dream British double this weekend.
The 27-year-old FIM Superbike World Championship challenger was victorious in both of his home races at Donington in May.
And now he wants a repeat in this weekend’s meeting at Silverstone.
For Sykes, two more race victories would be the perfect way to finish the first part of the season, with the championship then taking a break until the end of August.
Sykes is currently second in the championship, four points behind leader Sylvain Guintoli.
But with a win total of five races – more than any other rider in 2013 – he is confident of savouring more success back in England.
“At the previous round we had an issue in the race,” he said.
“But we had been fastest in most of the practice sessions and had great race pace, so in that respect I am happy.
“When you are pushing at the front of races sometimes mistakes or issues come along.
“Last year at Silverstone in normal conditions the Ninja ZX-10R was good but in the wet conditions of raceday we struggled a bit.
“I think many people understand that we have made a big step with the set-up since then.
“I am looking forward to racing again in front of my home crowd and hopefully we can have a similar kind of result as we did at Donington, but we will see.
“I am going to Silverstone relaxed and motivated and we can look to hopefully get ourselves back on track.
“There is a long summer break afterwards with three weeks off; then in September the calendar gets really busy again.
“So a good result at Silverstone would be ideal to enjoy the summer break all the more.”
Sykes’ big rival at Silverstone could be Loris Baz, who has always raced well on the England circuit.
“I had a very short holiday in Spain after Moscow and now I am ready for the Silverstone weekend,” he said.
“I really like Silverstone and after I won a race there last year I had a really good weekend.
“We are at a moment in the season when I need a strong weekend.
“I am not sure why I like Silverstone but I always enjoyed it when I rode it in Superstock and in BSB.
“It is a really nice track and so it’s always cool to go to England because I know the British spectators and I have some good fans there, so I am always happy to go to race in the UK.”
