Former World Superbikes champion Tom Sykes was denied a top two finish for the first time in four years in the 2015 championship.

The 30-year-old Huddersfield rider was third in both races in the final meeting of the season at the Losail International circuit in Qatar, but finished behind Chaz Davies in the second race and had to settle for third in the overall standings.

After winning the crown in 2013 and taking runners-up slots in 2012 and 2014, Kawasaki Racing Team rider Sykes was forced into third in the championship – but a big bonus of the meeting was that he claimed his 30th Superpole.

“There was too big a gap to bridge after the previous rounds in trying to take second place overall,” admitted Sykes.

“In race one the traction control turned itself all the way up to full and the power was being turned down so that explains why I was losing ground.

“I tried to compensate but in race two were we close to where we needed to be.

“ The two guys in front made an incredible race, passing each other so close but still able to maintain a lap time.

“I have to be happy with the third place result, and only being three-tenths of a second off the win, on a circuit that is not my best.

“That is a big positive to take into the winter.”

However, his performance in qualifying again showed Sykes at his best as he set a new track record and he added: “It is nice to score 30 Superpoles and honestly it is a reassurance that speed is not an issue.

“We will keep working and I hope that next season we can convert a few more of these pole positions into race wins.”

World Superbike Championship. Round 14, Losail International Curcuit, Qatar, Race Positions, 1st Race: 1 Jordi Torres (Spa) Aprilia 33mins 40.883secs, 2 Jonathan Rea (Gbr) Kawasaki 33:41.609, 3 Tom Sykes (Gbr) Kawasaki 33:47.462, 4 Chaz Davies (Gbr) Ducati 33:48.772, 5 Michael van der Mark (Ned) Honda 33:54.395, 6 Leon Haslam (Gbr) Aprilia 33:58.638, 7 Javier Fores (Spa) Suter 34:04.473, 8 David Salom (Spa) Kawasaki 34:07.300, 9 Leandro Mercado (Arg) Ducati 34:07.372, 10 Sylvain Guintoli (Fra) Honda 34:08.862

2nd Race: 1 Leon Haslam (Gbr) Aprilia 33mins 45.745secs, 2 Chaz Davies (Gbr) Ducati 33:45.855, 3 Tom Sykes (Gbr) Kawasaki 33:46.133, 4 Michael van der Mark (Ned) Honda 33:53.398, 5 Sylvain Guintoli (Fra) Honda 34:00.232, 6 Leandro Mercado (Arg) Ducati 34:05.108, 7 Randy De Puniet (Fra) Suzuki 34:08.213, 8 Niccolo Canepa (Ita) EBR 34:08.275, 9 David Salom (Spa) Kawasaki 34:13.341, 10 Ayrton Badovini (Ita) BMW 34:15.039

Final Championship Standings, rider: 1 Jonathan Rea (Gbr) Kawasaki 548pts, 2 Chaz Davies (Gbr) Ducati 416, 3 Tom Sykes (Gbr) Kawasaki 399, 4 Leon Haslam (Gbr) Aprilia 332, 5 Jordi Torres (Spa) Aprilia 247, 6 Sylvain Guintoli (Fra) Honda 218, 7 Michael van der Mark (Ned) Honda 194, 8 Leandro Mercado (Arg) Ducati 142, 9 Matteo Baiocco (Ita) Ducati 139, 10 Alex Lowes (Gbr) Suzuki 135.