Penultimate Round Full Of Opportunities For KRT Trio
After a gap of a month the FIM Superbike World Championship will get underway this weekend at a race meeting which could be pivotal for all three KRT riders – Tom Sykes, Loris Baz and KRT SBK Evo rider David Salom.
For 2013 champion and current series leader Tom Sykes Magny Cours was the place where he just missed out on the championship by half a point in 2012, before he went on to win a double that helped propel him toward champion status at the final round last season. Magny Cours is a favoured circuit for Sykes and one that seems to suit his Ninja ZX-10R even more than most, as he has won three of the last four WSBK races to have been held in France.
With eight race wins already this year – making a career total of 22 – Sykes will be out to defend his championship lead of 31 points in the best way possible, by setting out to win the races in France.
Magny Cours is the most important race of the season for Loris Baz, and the French rider’s only home venue on the championship trail. He missed the event last year because of injury and is keen to make the best possible showing in front of what is traditionally a strong and enthusiastic crowd. It will also be the final race of the season to be held in Europe, with the championship finale taking place in Qatar in early November.
Like Sykes in the full SBK Class, David Salom is the leader of the Evo category inside the full SBK grid. The Spanish rider has an impressive 41 point lead over his nearest Evo rival and is 12th overall in the combined standings, which include all the SBK competitors. He has made a good recovery after an operation on his long term right hand injury and feels strong for the two 21-lap races this coming Sunday.
At the Magny Cours race the team will feature more prominent sponsorship logos from long time team partner and French oil company ELF.
After Magny Cours there will be a one-month gap before the final races of the year, to be held under floodlights for the first time, at the Losail circuit in Qatar. Raceday will be Sunday 2 November.
Tom Sykes: “A big weekend coming up and it is potentially getting down towards crunch time. I am very relaxed and yet also excited to go to Magny Cours. It is a circuit we have done very well at in the past so I am looking forward to getting back on my Ninja ZX-10R. Despite scoring a podium in race two at Jerez we had a few issues at the previous round, especially in race one, so I am hoping we can be a lot stronger this time out. At this present time we are in a good championship position with the biggest margin for error. Hopefully we can stretch it a bit more this weekend.”
Loris Baz: “I am really looking forward to going to Magny Cours, especially because I missed the race last year. It is always a bit special, your home race. I am ready to restart at Magny Cours and even though I did not race there in Superbike last year I know the track very well because I have done two Bol D’Or endurance races. I like the track, the Ninja ZX-10R is going well, so I am sure we can make something really good there. There are always a lot of spectators at this race and it is a little bit special to go there and ride in front of my home fans.”
David Salom: “I am in a good position in the points table heading to France. It is not a bad circuit at all, especially in fully dry conditions, but it is just not my favourite one of the year. I have a 41-point advantage in the Evo class but in my mind, I am not even thinking about the championship heading to France; I am only thinking about winning the Evo races. I feel good because my hand is now much improved. If not 100% then it is maybe 95%. The doctor said maybe in a month it should be perfect, and the recovery after my operation has been very good.”