Sykes takes Snetterton podium

From Team Suzuki

Rizla Suzuki's Tom Sykes took a brilliant third place podium finish in the opening race of the fifth round of the Bennetts British Superbike Championship at Snetterton Sunday.

In bright sunshine Sykes competed for the victory in the first race and his third visit to the podium so far this season was well earned. With minor adjustments to suspension planned for race two the result may have been even better but cold driving rain ravaged the 1.952-mile Norfolk circuit and he eventually finished seventh.

"It's great to get another podium and I think we really worked hard to achieve it in the opening race," Sykes said. "I had to dig deep right at the end and the sheer speed of my Rizla Suzuki really helped; it was a missile down the straights.

"For the second race we made a few changes to help through the corners and if it had been dry we were in good shape; but then the rain fell. I did the best I could getting home in seventh and it's onwards and upwards from here, roll on Mallory Park."

Double Japanese Superbike Champion Atsushi Watanabe was making fast progress in dry conditions and scored a hard-fought 12th in the opening race. In the second wet race he struggled with the conditions and ended 20th.

Ducati's Leon Camier won the first race and Shane Byrne the second.

Rizla Suzuki is back on track at the sixth round of the British Superbike Championship at Mallory Park on Sunday, June 29.

Race 1 results
1. Leon Camier (Ducati) 23:13.162
2. Shane Byrne (Ducati) +0.092
3. Tom Sykes (Rizla Suzuki) +0.597
4. Cal Crutchlow (Honda) +1.026
5. Leon Haslam (Honda) +2.311
6. Michael Laverty (Suzuki) +2.872
7. James Ellison (Honda) +6.050
8. Karl Harris (Yamaha) +6.437
9. Michael Rutter (Ducati) +16.842
10. Simon Andrews (Yamaha) +19.540

Race 2 results
1. Shane Byrne (Ducati) 18:41.592
2. Leon Camier (Ducati) +2.433
3. Cal Crutchlow (Honda) +6.012
4. Michael Rutter (Ducati) +11.875
5. Leon Haslam (Honda) +14.527
6. Michael Laverty (Suzuki) +19.957
7. Tom Sykes (Rizla Suzuki) +21.123
8. Simon Andrews (Yamaha) +21.162
9. Tristan Palmer (Honda) +25.262
10. James Ellison (Honda) +27.488

Championship points after 5 of 12 rounds
1. Shane Byrne (Ducati) 235
2. Leon Camier (Ducati) 152
3. Cal Crutchlow (Honda) 151
4. Leon Haslam (Honda) 118
5. James Ellison (Honda) 103
6. Michael Rutter (Ducati) 102
7. Tom Sykes (Rizla Suzuki) 100
8. Michael Laverty (Suzuki) 79
9. Stuart Easton (Kawasaki) 62
10. Simon Andrews (Yamaha) 51