Sykes set to miss Silverstone, Brands races

Tom Sykes has been forced to withdraw from his home World Superbike Championship round at Silverstone after hurting his ankle during free practice, an injury that is also likely to rule him out of his British Superbike wild-card appearance at Brands Hatch in a week's time.

The Kawasaki rider fell heavily during the Superpole-preceding FP2 session at Brooklands, Sykes hurting his ankle and speculating that he may have 'chipped a bone'.

Though Sykes said he would undergo a fitness test on the Sunday morning before deciding whether to participate, he did not make it out for morning warm-up.

The injury will also place serious doubts as to whether he can race at Brands Hatch next weekend as part of Kawasaki's annual BSB wild-card appearance. Sykes won two races during a similar outing last year.

Sykes would have started the two WSBK races from 16th position on the grid, but now has more than a month to return to full fitness before the next round in Germany.