DONINGTON PARK Sunday 7 September Hannspree World Superbike Championship Round Eleven Troy Bayliss is intent on a winning finale as he races Superbikes for the last time in this country at Donington Park on Sunday 7 September prior to hanging up his leathers at the end of the season, but five ‘wild-card’ British riders, among them Tom Sykes, are determined to spoil the party for the Aussie ace. Sykes, riding Rizla Suzuki, made a big impression on his debut onto the world stage in the previous round at Brands Hatch, and now the 22 year old Yorkshireman is promising bigger and better things as the ‘home-pack’ aim for glory at the expense of Bayliss who is hoping to secure the crown for a third time in this his final season in the sport. “I’m very excited about this opportunity and looking forward to mixing it with the regulars in the World championship again,” said Sykes whose entry into the races at the Leicestershire circuit has to be rubber-stamped by the sport’s governing body the FIM. “I will be carrying on from where I left off at Brands Hatch and hopefully taking it to the next level. I want to be racing closer to the sharp-end of pack with more of the big names of the world championship behind me again.” Sykes is the form man of the Bennetts British Superbike Championship having won three of the four races recently at Oulton Park and Knockhill and he reckons he can maintain that rich vein of form, although his rivals from the domestic series will have a big say in that. Leon Haslam, the winner of the second race at Knockhill, returns to the world stage with the HM Plant Honda team the 25 year old lives nearby to the circuit at Smalley and has enjoyed a successful pedigree at Donington Park, something that he will be working hard to continue in his efforts to secure a full time ride in the World Championship next term. That is also the driving force for his team-mate Cal Crutchlow, another race winner in the British series, and currently placed second in the overall rankings the Coventry rider will be riding on the world stage for the first time. James Ellison, a former winner of the British Superbike Cup who has ridden MotoGP and seen American action, will be one to watch aboard the Hydrex Bike Animal Honda, while Lincoln’s Gary Johnson, riding the Robinsons Concrete Honda will be hoping to reproduce the form of this year’s Isle of Man TT festival in which he took four top six finishes. Rob Frost, riding the Team Buff Triumph, and Chris Martin, aboard the Gearlink Kawasaki, have ‘wild-card’ promoters option tickets to ride in the World Supersport race while Peter Hickman and Derby’s Jon Kirkham have entries into the Superstock 1000 FIM Cup. Leon Hunt and Joe Burns have the opportunity to race in the European Superstock 600 Championship race. Practice and qualifying for all classes are through Friday/Saturday 5/6 September. Tickets are available now on www.donington-park.co.uk or by ringing the ticket hotline on 0871 230 7134