Tom Sykes takes first win for Kawasaki at 2011 World Superbike Championship – WSBK news
Tom Sykes secured an amazing victory for Kawasaki in the second race at round ten of the 2011 World Superbike Championship this past Sunday, September 4, 2011 in Germany’s Nurburgring circuit.
It was Sykes’ first WSBK win of his career.
During the first race of this WSBK event, the crowd witnessed WSBK leader Carlos Checa of the Althea Ducati team as the man who raced valiantly to earn his first podium amidst fierce competition and unfavourable conditions.
Explaining how he powered his way to the top, Checa expressed, “As for me it was a very good race, and it’s one step in front for the championship. I know that I had to make a gap in the early laps, because I was suffering a little on the straight. At the end I was struggling a little with the tyres but the difference was good enough for me to win.”
Yamaha rider Marco Melandri put up a close chase and was just behind Checa by a few seconds to secure his second position. Third and fourth positions went to Noriyuki Haga of Ducati team and Yamaha’s Eugene Laverty respectively. Following them was Leon Haslam who came fifth and Tom Sykes of Kawasaki was at 11th position at the end of the first race.
The second race, however took the crowd to surprise when an unexpected change in order of the riders came about.
Haga had been leading for most part of the second race, however as soon as he fell down during the 12th lap, Sykes had put up a quick and effective combat with Sylvain Guintoli and Jonathan Rea in order to ensure a place for himself at the podium.
Tom Sykes, who was at 11th position at the end of the first race, battled it out with great valour and enthusiasm in a very demanding circuit that had been soaked with heavy rain. Only 13 riders were successful in pulling it off and proving their mettle by finishing off the race that had to be called off owing to the difficult weather conditions.
When asked about how he felt, Sykes said, “The first win feels absolutely fantastic, the conditions today were unbelievable!”
The Yorkshireman ran on a Ninja ZX-10R – a machine that was launched in 2010 at the same circuit. It was not only a well-deserved first place at the podium but also revived the confidence of the Kawasaki squad. It was a victory which they had been waiting for since 2006 when Chris Walker won for Kawasaki at Assen under not-so-different circumstances under which Sykes had to fight through at Nurburgring.
After the event, Sykes stands on 11th position in the 2011 World Superbike Championship.
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