TOM SYKES rode to his first podium of the season before a mechanical failure in race two at Brands Hatch saw him crash out of second place in spectacular style, causing the race to be stopped in the rescheduled British Superbike meeting at Brands Hatch.

Sykes, 22, of Farnley Tyas, held off the chasing HM Plant Honda of Cal Crutchlow to finish second behind his former Stobart Honda teammate Shane ‘Shakey’ Byrne (Airwaves Ducati).

Sykes said: “The podium in race one has been a long time coming. My Rizla Suzuki technicians worked really hard and I’m pleased I was able to repay them with some champagne.

“As for race two, it was just unfortunate as I had the pace to win but crashed out due to a mechanical failure.

“I don’t want to dwell on the incident as we have had a lot of positives this weekend. I just want to get on my Rizla Suzuki at Donington Park and finish both races on the podium. I know we are capable of that.”

After posting the third quickest time of the Superbike Cup runners, Denby Dale-based Tom Tunstall had set his fastest lap of the privateer’s race to latch onto the back of a four rider pack, when his race ended three laps too early after he lost the front going into the second gear 60mph Druids bend.

The Hardinge Ice Valley team worked flat out to get his Honda CBR1000RR back into shape and, after literally dusting himself down, he was within two seconds of the leading pack.

However, a heavy crash brought out the safety car which bunched the field up, and by the time the track was cleared, there were only two laps remaining with Tunstall in fourth and within reach of the rostrum.

Then Sykes’s engine blew leaving oil on the track and leading the organisers to declare the result early.

Tunstall said: “To me there’s a big difference between finishing third and fourth and missing the rostrum is a shame, but I’ve proved we have the pace to be there by setting the fastest lap, and if the race hadn’t been interrupted I’m convinced I’d have been on the podium. I’m happy we’re on the right track and looking forward to Donington (May 24-26).”