WORLD Superbikes racer Tom Sykes is ready to prove his critics wrong in 2013.

The Huddersfield rider was beaten by just half a point to the championship title this season by Italian Max Biaggi, but sees next year as his big chance to snap up the title – contrary to what some pundits think!

“I have heard some comments from people that was my chance and it has gone, but I do not look at it like that,” said the Kawasaki Racing Team rider.

“We have done a good job this year and worked hard, and found ourselves in a good position.

“I speak with my crew chief Marcel a lot, and if we had known back in Australia at the start of last season what we know now, I think we would have had an even stronger season.”

In 2012 the 27-year-old and the Kawasaki Racing Team Ninja ZX-10R was the most improved combination in the championship – Sykes having finished outside the top ten the previous year.

For Sykes the big prize is the aim and he goes into next year’s championship with career World Superbike statistics of 106 races, five wins,15 podiums, 17 front row starts, set four fastest laps and has 11 Superpole successes in qualifying – the vast majority of those highlights coming last season.

“Looking to 2013 I am more than happy now, and really excited and relaxed that I have, first and foremost, continuity,” said Sykes.

“I am with a great team in Kawasaki. Everybody has seen how much effort they have put in.

“Also, all of the team, all the guys working with me, we have a great understanding, and fortunately we are continuing with some great sponsors that are helping all the time.

“It is all a massive team effort. We have really gelled and it is working well.”

After some great showings in testing post-season, Sykes knows that development is still moving forward but he also feels that all he learned in 2012 will be an asset for the next challenge.

“Next year there is going to be a lot of expectations and I feel I can manage myself in a good way,” said Sykes.

“For example, Magny-Cours, the final round of 2012, I was second in the championship when I arrived there, with a lot of pressure to perform.

“All things being said, I handled the pressure very well. We had some limitations in the wet there so I took the maximum points in race one that I felt it was safe to achieve, which was third.

“In the second race, the championship deciding race, I won that one, so I was quietly proud of that.”