‘Slow speed’ crash costs Sykes a ‘top six’ Assen result

Crashes in Superpole and race two cost Tom Sykes the chance at a top six result at WorldSBK Assen. 

The BMW rider was on course to challenge team-mate Michael Van Der Mark, Michaek Rinaldi and Alex Lowes in the final race of the weekend, before a penultimate lap crash at the Geert Timmer Chicane saw him finish 15th in the end.

Sykes was arguably the fastest rider of the fighting quartet before crashing, while Van Der Mark was the rider who ultimately claimed that sixth position following last lap overtakes on Lowes and Rinaldi. 

Sykes’ recovery rides from 20th in both race one and the Superpole race - claimed seventh spot in both of them - were mightily impressive, however, a qualifying crash left the 2013 world champion playing catch-up throughout the weekend. 

"We managed to start race two on the third row which was a lot better. We got a much cleaner start to the race as the guys did a bit of work to the BMW M 1000 RR," added Sykes. 

"We used the harder rear tyre and just couldn’t find the grip we needed at the beginning of the race but having said that, the bike stayed very constant throughout the race. 

"Unfortunately coming into the last corner before entering the final lap, I tried to close the line and square the corner off and lost the front. It was such a slow speed crash, but I wasn’t able to save it. 

"It’s such a shame, the bike today was good enough for that top-six and it would have been nice to be consistent the whole weekend. 

"It certainly seemed we have made some good improvements including both me and Michael. A disappointing end to the weekend but we can take the positives from it, and we will focus on that and try to build on it for the next round."