HUDDERSFIELD’S Tom Sykes will ride alongside Australian MotoGP man Chris Vermeulen at Kawasaki next season.
The 24-year-old rides his last race for Yamaha Motor Italia in the final World Superbike round of the season at Portimao on Sunday.
Sykes had wondered what the future held when his team announced an all-new rider line up for 2010 involving MotoGP rider James Toseland and Cal Crutchlow – but not him. However, after three weeks of rumblings and rumours around the sport, Sykes has finally put pen to paper with Paul Bird’s Kawasaki team – rejoining the team he rode for in the British Superbike paddock in 2007.
He travels to Round 14 in Portimao still nursing an injured shoulder suffered last time out at Magny Cours, when he failed to finish for the first time all campaign.
With 176 points and two races left, he is just 10 in front of fellow Brit Shane Byrne in ninth and is adamant maintaining his place in the top eight will represent success at Portimao.
“Realistically if we can just keep in the top eight in the championship that would be good, but I still feel that on a really good day we can be in the top four during the races,” he explained.
“Obviously fitness depending – if I was fully fit I know that top four is possible, but you have got to accept that these things happen and move on.”
British Eurosport 2 has live coverage from every round of the 2009 Superbike World Championship. See the action on Sky channel 411 or Virgin Media channel 525. Next race Portimao, Portugal on Sunday October 25 and for SBK updates visit uk.eurosport.yahoo.com
