BMW: Sykes' departure ‘a great loss; most improved team thanks to him’

Despite landing a major coup with the signing of Scott Redding, Shaun Muir is disappointed to see 2013 WorldSBK champion Tom Sykes leave the German manufacturer for this season. 

It was confirmed last August that Redding would join BMW and therefore replace Sykes, however, the team remained in talks with Sykes regarding a move to the Satellite Bonovo BMW team.

Sykes, who missed Jerez, Portimao and San Juan due to concussion, was in contention to fight team-mate Michael Van Der Mark for sixth in the championship at the time of his Catalunya accident. 

But with Loris Baz impressing on his WorldSBK return with GoEleven Ducati - claimed two podium finishes in just five races - and Eugene Laverty still in the fold, the German manufacturer decided to go forward with the French and Irish riders, leaving Sykes without a ride for 2022. 

Despite not retaining Sykes, Muir feels it’s a ‘great loss’ to the team as the Brit had been with them since returning to the series as a full factory outfit in 2019. 

“Managing this team and managing a rider of Tom's calibre has been fantastic for me,” Muir told the official World Superbike website. “I think it's a great loss to us and to BMW that he's, you know, he's moved on and from my side of it, it's a big thank you to him on a personal level as well. 

“He's just been so good for the project. I honestly don't think we probably could have got to where we've got to as quick. 

“If you look at the results, he turned around in the first season… we were probably the most improved team of the year in 2019 and all that thanks goes to Tom for that.”

While Sykes is still assessing his options for the 2022 season which include BSB and MotoAmerica, he’s also in contention to remain in WorldSBK with Pedercini Kawasaki.