Sykes podiums at Donington

From Team Suzuki

Tom Sykes pulled off a spectacular third place podium finish for Rizla Suzuki after starting from 13th on the grid at round 4 of the Bennetts British Superbike Championship at Donington Park on Monday.

The Huddersfield rider got off the line well and immediately slotted into sixth place in the blustery conditions at the 2.5-mile GP circuit. He rode hard putting in consistently fast lap times and picking off other riders to achieve his second podium finish of the year.

In race two he finished in a close sixth place after being baulked by slower riders early on.

"I've got mixed feelings from today," said Sykes. "Obviously I'm delighted with my podium finish as that is where my Rizla Suzuki team and I should be finishing. Starting from the fourth row of the grid isn't ideal as I usually aim to be on the front row. However in the first race I got away well and battled in the lead group. As for race two; I got a bit beaten up into the first turn and then got caught behind a slower rider who was holding me up. The high winds weren't helping matters either."

Sykes's teammate Atsushi Watanabe, starting from 22nd place on the grid, finished 17th in race one and 13th in race two.

Rizla Suzuki now travels to Snetterton for the fifth round of the British Superbike Championship in three weeks time on June 15.

Race 1 Results:
1. Shane Byrne (Ducati) 32:01.058
2. Leon Haslam (Honda) +2.473
3. Tom Sykes (Rizla Suzuki) +3.442
4. James Ellison (Honda) +5.856
5. Leon Camier (Ducati) +6.188
6. Cal Crutchlow (Honda) +6.636
7. Karl Harris (Yamaha) +7.464
8. Michael Rutter (Ducati) +9.809
9. Michael Laverty (Suzuki) +12.627
10. Simon Andrews (Yamaha) +16.246

Race 2 Results:
1. Shane Byrne (Ducati) 31:06.337
2. Leon Haslam (Honda) +0.355
3. Cal Crutchlow (Honda) +1.447
4. Leon Camier (Ducati) +1.596
5. James Ellison (Honda) +4.186
6. Tom Sykes (Rizla Suzuki) +7.446
7. Karl Harris (Yamaha) +15.703
8. Michael Rutter (Ducati) +26.794
9. Simon Andrews (Yamaha) +31.816
10. Gary Mason (Honda) +32.870

Championship Standings
1. Shane Byrne (Ducati) 190
2. Cal Crutchlow (Honda) 122
3. Leon Camier (Ducati) 107
4. Leon Haslam (Honda) 96
5. James Ellison (Honda) 88
6. Michael Rutter (Ducati) 82
7. Tom Sykes (Rizla Suzuki) 75
8. Stuart Easton (Kawasaki) 62
9. Michael Laverty (Suzuki) 59
10. Simon Andrews (Honda) 37