HUDDERSFIELD Racer Tom Sykes is enjoying his World Superbike season with his two podium finishes at Donington Park hot on the heels of the championship leader.

On his ‘home’ run this season the Kawasaki Racing Team rider produced two third place finishes and despite finishing behind championship leader Max Biaggi in race two Sykes is now only five slender points behind the Aprilia rider.

Sykes, who started from pole for the fourth time this season, said: “Race one was a fantastic race.

“I really enjoyed it and it certainly felt like a long one as it seemed to go on for many laps.

“Overall I think we had a very good show, lots of passing and a little bit too much at some corners, especially at the Foggy Esses, which seemed to claim a few victims.

“Unfortunately we seemed to struggle at one particular part of the track and that definitely affected our race performance.

“Yet again we got the perfect start and led for a number of laps in race two, but I was missing a bit of feeling due to the wind blowing on the track, which was unfortunate.

“I managed to stay out front, but made one mistake and all the other guys came racing past me at a rate of knots.

“We didn’t quite have the best setting this weekend but a pole position and two podiums are great for myself and the Kawasaki team.

“I had the best seat in the house for the last couple of laps of race two when the leading pair came off, but for me five minus two equals a podium, so I’m very happy!”

Sykes has now scored five podiums in the nine races so far, including his win last time out at Monza.