26 Facts About Tom Sykes

Tom Sykes holds World Superbike Championship records for the most career pole positions and ranks second to Troy Corser in career race starts.

In 2007 he gained his first ride in British Superbikes, riding a Stobart Vent-Axia Honda; Tom Sykes finished in sixth position in the championship in his rookie year.

Tom Sykes won his first SBK title in 2013 for Kawasaki.

Tom Sykes raced in the Supersport division of the British Superbike championship from 2003 to 2006, finishing 8th, 5th, 6th, and as runner-up to Cal Crutchlow in 2006.

Tom Sykes finished 18 of the first 20 rounds, including a pair of 4th places at Snetterton.

Tom Sykes took his first two podiums at the Croft Circuit, to move up to 6th in the championship, immediately behind Byrne, and immediately ahead of Leon Camier on another Honda.

Tom Sykes started the 2008 with a 6th and an 8th at Thruxton.

Tom Sykes took pole position at Oulton Park, but crashed at the aborted start of race 1, before finishing 5th on the restart [1].

Tom Sykes led race 2 until being taken out by Leon Haslam, who was excluded for the move.

Tom Sykes continued to finish towards the front of the field consistently scoring podiums at Brands Hatch, Donington Park and Snetterton all in the first of the 2 races.

Tom Sykes followed that up with a third straight win at Knockhill in the first race, and collected podiums for the rest of the championship.

Tom Sykes finished 4th in the championship with 316 points, 2 points behind Cal Crutchlow.

Tom Sykes made his World Superbike Championship debut at Brands Hatch as a wildcard, impressing by qualifying sixth.

Tom Sykes retired from a strong position in race 1 due to a hole in the radiator by rocks thrown up by Max Biaggi's Sterilgarda Ducati machine, but came back to finish 6th in race 2.

Tom Sykes gained a second wildcard meeting at Donington Park in changeable conditions, where he proved even stronger.

Tom Sykes was less competitive in race two, but his reputation had still been boosted.

On 11 September 2008 Tom Sykes signed a contract with the Yamaha Motor Italia World Superbike team for the 2009 season, with an option to extend that contract until 2010 depending on results.

Tom Sykes had an average year finishing mostly mid-pack, while his teammate Ben Spies was at the front of the field.

Tom Sykes signed for the Paul Bird Motorsport Kawasaki team for 2010, as had been rumoured, enabling him to stay in the World Superbike class.

The Kawasaki was relatively uncompetitive in 2010, but Tom Sykes managed a strong fifth place at Monza.

Tom Sykes was the team leader for much of the year, with the more experienced Chris Vermeulen struggling following a knee injury sustained at the first round at Phillip Island.

Tom Sykes made a wildcard appearance with the team in the British Superbike Championship at Brands Hatch.

Tom Sykes finished close to last in race 2, but Lascorz made 6th.

Tom Sykes has been crowned the 2013 World Superbike Champion after securing the third-place finish he needed to secure a popular title victory at Jerez, while Eugene Laverty took a dramatic last corner victory over Marco Melandri.

On 21 June 2014, Tom Sykes captured his 21st career Superpole at Italy's Misano World Circuit for round seven of the series.

Tom Sykes will compete at Superbike World Championship in 2023.