TOM SYKES was left wondering what might have been after his World Superbike home round went from the sublime to the ridiculous at Donington Park.

The Huddersfield racer was highly impressive in qualifying at round two – helping himself to a front-row start despite riding with a sub-standard tyre.

But after the highs of his qualifying on Saturday, the 25-year-old struggled on race day, crashing out on lap 18 of race one as Italian Marco Melandri took his maiden World Superbike win.

Race two was also a struggle for the Kawasaki Racing Team rider with a poor start leaving him fighting a losing battle from the outset – eventually finishing 12th.

And after a weekend dotted with highs and lows Sykes’ final verdict was one of missed opportunities.

“The races were not what I was expecting going into the day after a front row start,” said Sykes, now in his third full season in the World Superbike ranks.

“I was quietly confident of coming away with top three or top four results and race one was going to plan.

“But I had a bit of an issue and it was mainly my mistake that I had a crash at the Esses while lying in fourth.

“I was still looking forward to race two, but I had to use the spare bike, which wasn’t in the script.

“Things did not go to plan again but I got tipped into on lap one, and didn’t really have anywhere to go and I lost some ground.”

The 25-year-old’s points haul of just four saw him drop down the overall rankings to tenth place, 72 points shy of early-season pace setter Carlos Checa who, with victory in race two, made it three wins from four starts in 2011.

After the month’s break since round one, Sykes now has just three weeks to prepare himself for a trip to Assen for round three.

Sykes claimed his equal best World Superbike points haul to date, 23, at the Dutch circuit in 2009 – and despite his Donington troubles, insists there are positives to take to the continent.

“I am looking forward to Assen now and I need to work towards that,” added Sykes.

“I think we have done good positive work at the weekend in any case.”

Championship Standings (after round two): 1 C Checa 91pts, 2 M Melandri 72, 3 L Haslam 53, 4 M Biaggi 49, 5 J Smrz 42, 6 J Rea 38, 7 L Camier 37, 8 M Fabrizio 27, 9 N Haga 26, 10 T Sykes 19.

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