Huddersfield's World Superbikes champion Tom Sykes made a steady start to the final meeting of the season at the Losail International circuit in Qatar.

The 29-year-old Kawasaki Racing Team rider holds a 12-point lead over his only rival for the 2014 title Sylvain Guintoli and, with 50 points up for grabs at the Doha track, reigning champion Sykes needs just two second place finishes to ensure he retains the title.

Racing under floodlights at Losail, Sykes made his usual comfortable start in the build up to race day tomorrow.

Lying third in the first session of first practice, Sykes was content enough to end the third session in ninth place on the Ninja ZX-10R.

The other contender Aprilia rider Guintoli was fourth in the rankings, while it was Jonathan Rea, who will be Sykes’ teammate at Kawasaki Racing next season, on his Pata Honda CBR1000RR who took on the role of pacesetter.