Sykes galvanised by the BSB challenge: “I’ll ride a Ducati for the first time”

The news had been in the air for months and now that Christian Iddon’s move to Suzuki has been confirmed, it was only a matter of time before it was made official... Tom Sykes will return to British Superbike aboard the Ducati Panigale V4-R of the Paul Bird Motorsport team. The Englishman, 2013 Superbike world champion and a long-time front runner in the production-derived series, will return to the national championship where he raced on a fixed basis until 2008.

Alongside Tom is Josh Brookes. The experienced Australian was already BSB champion in both 2015 and 2020, with the Ducati of the same team. His goal will be to bounce back after a 2021 season that was short on results, qualification for the Showdown his only, meagre consolation.

Sykes: “It will be fun to ride the Superbike without electronics”

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The Englishman doesn’t hide his excitement as he prepares for his big return to the national series: “I am very excited and motivated for this great opportunity to race in BSB with PBM. The level of competition is obviously high, but it is a team I have been a part of before, both in BSB and in WSBK and one that has all of the pedigree for the task ahead. Riding the Superbike without electronics will be fun, and I will also be riding a Ducati for the first time in my career after riding for five other manufacturers in the Superbike category. This alone adds more excitement and motivation to the pot.”

Brookes: “We’ll fight for the championship”

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A tough 2021 season now behind him, Brookes is ready to get back on top, something he's been able to do on 54 occasions during his career. The Australian actually holds more race wins than anyone else on the grid: “I would like to thank Paul for giving me the opportunity to ride for the team again. I enjoy racing the Ducati and I am now really eager for the off season to end so that we can get back testing and focus on the opening round of the championship. I’m sure that, after last year’s difficulties, we’ll be back fighting for the championship”.

Translated by Heather Watson

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