Rizla Suzuki rider Tom Sykes broke his Bennetts British Superbike duck with a fantastic double at Oulton Park this afternoon. In jubilant scenes at the Cheshire track, Sykes took advantage of a fantastic start in both races to secure a maximum points haul and his first wins in Britain’s premier motorcycle racing series. In the first incident-filled Bennetts British Superbike race of the afternoon, Sykes got off to a flying start, taking the holeshot from HM Plant Honda pole-sitter Cal Crutchlow. James Ellison also enjoyed a superb start, jumping from eighth on the grid into second position. The Hydrex Bike Animal man sneaked into the lead on lap two, but Sykes kept Ellison in his sights and re-took the initiative on lap seven. Series leader Shane Byrne remained anonymous until lap ten when Cal Crutchlow and Karl Harris both suffered accidents, which resulted in the Airwaves Ducati man jumping into the final podium position. Race two was a tactical affair, which promised last gasp action. The usual suspects of Sykes, Crutchlow, Haslam and Byrne were once again joined at the front by James Ellison. However, the Hydrex Bike Animal man couldn’t keep on terms with the top four, who battled until the last lap for the win. Byrne, as he had done several times already this season, stalked the lead from fourth position, grabbed third from Haslam but failed to make further progress. Meanwhile, despite intense pressure from Crutchlow, Sykes secured his second victory of the afternoon, and his career, with steely determination. The double win stands Sykes in good stead ahead of his wildcard appearance at the Bennetts supported British round of the Superbike World Championship at Brands Hatch on August 3. Race one result: 1. T. Sykes 29:12.165; 2.J. Ellison +4.779; 3. S. Byrne +5.089 Race two result: 1. T. Sykes 29:04.554; 2. C. Crutchlow +0.097; 3. S. Byrne +0.619 Championship standings: 1. Byrne 312; 2. Crutchlow 213; 3. Sykes 176; 4. Haslam 174; 5. Camier 160; 6. Ellison 150; 7. Rutter 141; 8. Laverty 100; 9. Andrews 90; 10. Palmer 64 More, from a press release issued by British Superbike Championship organizers: Sykes takes maiden victory and then completes daily double BENNETTS BRITISH SUPERBIKE CHAMPIONSHIP Round seven 20 July Oulton Park Tom Sykes was long overdue a victory in the Bennetts British Superbike Championship having come close on several occasions and the Rizla Suzuki set the record straight with a dominant seventh round performance at Oulton Park where he completed the daily double. He had been on the pace throughout the weekend, missing out on pole by barely a quarter of a second, but with his team Sykes had worked hard to ensure that his bike was perfectly set for the two 18 laps races at the Cheshire circuit. Sykes made the running on the first lap of the opener which began in the damp but soon dried but was taken by James Ellison aboard the Hydrex Bike Animal Honda who headed the pack for the first third when the Rizla Suzuki rider made the decisive move at Hizzy’s chicane. He was able to extend his advantage, taking his first ever Superbike victory by almost five seconds ahead of Ellison who was matching his best result while series leader Shane Byrne took third place on his Airwaves Ducati at the expense of HM Plant Honda rider Leon Haslam. “I was both delighted and relieved,” explained Sykes as he received the winner’s trophy, adding: “It was a tough race as there was a lot to think about with the track conditions. “With about ten laps to go I started to think, “This is it!” so I had to work hard and keep concentrating keeping the bike on line and bringing it back OK. I wasn’t able to really enjoy winning the first race because I knew that I had to go out there and do it all again.” Sykes was ready to take on all challengers in the second race and he had moved ahead of Haslam by the end of the second lap, but then was having to head off the fierce challenges coming in from Cal Crutchlow who was eager to make amends for an error in the first race which dropped him HM Plant Honda to sixth. The Coventry rider tried everything he knew to find a way through, but Sykes had all of the answers as he gave the Suzuki team their first winning double in the series since John Reynolds success at the Cheshire circuit in 2004. Sykes took the victory by inches, or officially 0.097secs, and he enthused: “This is something else, something special a bit like waiting for the Number 10 but to come along a long wait and then two come together. “I think I’ll celebrate with a brew and a piece of cake and I might even get some fast food on the way home and a lie in in the morning. Then I’ll start thinking about my World Superbike debut at Brands Hatch next month.” Byrne again had to settle for third, ahead of Haslam, but the champion of 2003 was not complaining as he extended to 312-213 points his lead over Crutchlow in the title stakes. “I tried as hard as I could to get second place from Cal and got ahead on the last lap but made a mistake and had to take third, but I’m not complaining having increased my lead.” Sykes moved third in the standings 176-174 ahead of Haslam. John Laverty continued his domination of the Daily Star Cup with a winning double aboard his Buildbase NW200 Ducati, heading off Martin Jessopp, on the Riders Honda, in the opening race and then Gary Mason aboard the Quay Garage Honda next time out. Results Round seven Bennetts British Superbike Championship Race One 18 laps 1Tom Sykes (Rizla Suzuki) 29m 12.165s 2. James Ellison (Hydrex Bike Animal Honda) +4.779s 3. Shane Byrne (Airwaves Ducati +5.089s 4. Leon Haslam (HM Plant Honda) +14.336s 5. Simon Andrews (Lloyds British Yamaha) +25.518s 6. Cal Crutchlow (HM Plant Honda) +31.402s 7. Michael Rutter (North West 200 Ducati) +36.383s 8. Billy McConnell (MSS Discovery Kawasaki) +38.630s 9. Michael Laverty (Relentless Suzuki by TAS) +48.039s 10. John Laverty (Buildbase NW200 Ducati) +48.596s Race Two 18 laps 1Tom Sykes (Rizla Suzuki) 29m 04.554s 2. Cal Crutchlow (HM Plant Honda) +0.619s 3. Shane Byrne (Airwaves Ducati) +1.265s 4. Leon Haslam (HM Plant Honda) +11.649s 5. James Ellison (Hydrex Bike Animal Honda) +25.255s 6. Simon Andrews (Lloyds British Yamaha) +26.498s 7. Michael Laverty (Relentless Suzuki by TAS) +26.949s 8. Scott Smart (Hawk Kawasaki) +31.221s 9. Karl Harris (Rob Mac Racing Yamaha) +31.189s 10. Billy McConnell (MSS Discovery Kawasaki) +32.694s Championship standings 1 Shane Byrne 312 2 Cal Crutchlow 213 3 Tom Sykes 176 4 Leon Haslam 174 5 Leon Camier 160 6 James Ellison 150 More, from a press release issued by GSE Racing/Airwaves Ducati: TWO PODIUMS FOR BYRNE AT OULTON PARK Airwaves Ducati rider Shane Byrne leaves Oulton Park leading the British Superbike Championship by 99 points after achieving two third place finishes at round 7. Following his heavy fall during qualifying, Leon Camier did not compete in today’s races. After dropping back to 7th at the start of race one, Shane fought his way through the field to take 3rd position on lap 14 of 18. Shane was able to close the gap on the leading pair, crossing the line just 0.310 seconds behind James Ellison to take the final podium spot for Airwaves Ducati. In race two Shane once again dropped a few places at the start, finding himself in 4th. The top 4 riders broke away from the rest of the field and maintained their positions until lap 17 of 18 when Shane overtook Leon Haslam for 3rd. On the final lap Shane briefly held 2nd before a late challenge by Cal Crutchlow pushed him back down to 3rd. After a tough couple of days Leon said, “It’s been a difficult weekend. The decision to not take part today wasn’t an easy one but I wasn’t 100% fit to race so it was for the best. I’m now really looking forward to going to Knockhill and getting my championship back on track with the Airwaves Ducati team.” Following race two Shane commented, “I’m pleased to have extended my championship lead, but if I am honest I really wish I could have come away with a win for the Airwaves Ducati team today. In the first race I didn’t push hard enough for the first few laps and it really cost me, allowing the riders in front to get away. I felt a lot more comfortable in race two, the Airwaves Ducati 1098R worked the best it has all season. The next round at Knockhill should suit the Airwaves Ducati and I like it as a circuit so I look forward to climbing back to the top of the podium once again!” Race One Result 1. Tom Sykes Rizla Suzuki 2. James Ellison Hydrex Bike Animal Honda 3. Shane Byrne Airwaves Ducati Race Two Result 1. Tom Sykes Rizla Suzuki 2. Cal Crutchlow HM Plant Honda 3. Shane Byrne Airwaves Ducati Championship Points 1. Shane Byrne 312 points 2. Cal Crutchlow 213 points 3. Tom Sykes 176 points 4. Leon Haslam 174 points 5. Leon Camier 160 points More, from a press release issued by Team Suzuki News Service: Rizla Suzuki’s Tom Sykes won his debut and second British Superbike races in quick succession to claim an emotional double win at the seventh round of the Bennetts British Superbike Championship at Oulton Park in Cheshire today. Starting from third on the grid in the opening race, Yorkshire ace Sykes led from lap seven and never looked back, winning by a dominant five seconds despite admitting to nerves as the laps ticked down and heavy clouds menaced the 2.69-mile circuit. In race two he took the lead on lap two and then maintained a slim advantage under enormous pressure to the chequered flag, riding with impressive composure and speed. He capped the day by setting the fastest lap in both races and moves from sixth to third in the title race. Rizla Suzuki’s Atsushi Watanabe matched his qualifying position finishing 13th in race one. In the second, he was forced to come into the pits and take his spare bike due to an electrical problem and fought his way through from 29th to 17th just outside the points. He now returns to Japan to take part in the prestigious Suzuka eight-hour race where he is targeting a podium finish next weekend. Rizla Suzuki and Sykes step up to the challenge of World Superbike racing in two weeks time when he takes a wild-card ride in the massively-popular Brands Hatch round of the Championship. Rizla Suzuki then goes on to the eighth round of the British Superbike Championship at Knockhill in Scotland one week later. Tom Sykes: “It doesn’t get much better than this; to win my first race and then my second on the same day is a dream come true. A big thank you to my Rizla Suzuki team, every member deserves this success as it has been a big effort to get my GSX-R1000 performing so well – thank you one and all. “Race one was completely nerve-wracking. It seemed to be the longest race ever; the laps took forever and I had far too much time to think of what could go wrong so I was relieved and overjoyed to get to the chequered flag and get the win in the bag. Race two was harder with all the pressure but I knew my Rizla Suzuki was good and controlled it from the front; it was the icing on the cake. “Brands Hatch WSB is next and my debut at that level of racing. My Rizla Suzuki is as good as any Superbike in the world and I can’t wait to rub shoulders with Bayliss, Haga and Kagayama: They need to look out as I’m going for the podium.” Atsushi Watanabe: “Well done to Tom and Rizla Suzuki for great results; this is very good news and makes me happy as well as big encouragement for future. “It has been a difficult day for me; the results are not what I want. In race one I rode as hard as I could and in race two I started from pit-lane on my spare bike because of electrical problem and although I overtook many people and rode faster than the first race, I did not make the points. I now go back to Japan and Suzuka and hope for a podium result in the eight-hour for Suzuki.” Jack Valentine – Rizla Suzuki Team Manager: “Brilliant, ace, mega, fantastic, awesome – any of those will describe Tom’s double win, take your pick. Well done to the Rizla Suzuki team and Tom on a fairy-tale performance, it is thoroughly deserved and well earned. I think now we have established Tom and the Rizla Suzuki GSX-R1000 as race winners, there will be more to come. “Atsu did his best today but didn’t get the results he deserves. After he returns from Japan and the Suzuka eight-hour, I am sure he will be up for the rest of the season. Tom’s victories today have lifted him as well. “Thank you to all the Rizla Suzuki sponsors and fans for all their support – this double race win is for you all to share with us. With a bit of luck there will be more champagne this season and wouldn’t it be great to taste it at Brands World Superbikes – come along and give us your support if you can, every bit helps!” Race one results: 1: Tom Sykes (Rizla Suzuki) 29:12.165 2: James Ellison (Honda) +4.779 3: Shane Byrne (Ducati) +5.089 4: Leon Haslam (Honda) +14.336 5: Simon Andrews (Yamaha) +25.518 6: Cal Crutchlow (Honda) +31.402 7: Michael Rutter (Ducati) +36.383 8: Billy McConnell (Kawasaki) +38.630 9: Michael Laverty (Suzuki) +48.039 10: John Laverty (Ducati) +48.596 13: Atsushi Watanabe (Rizla Suzuki) +56.451 Race two results: 1: Tom Sykes (Rizla Suzuki) 29:04.554 2: Cal Crutchlow (Honda) +0.097 3: Shane Byrne (Ducati) +0.619 4: Leon Haslam (Honda) +1.265 5: James Ellison (Honda) +11.649 6: Simon Andrews (Yamaha) +25.255 7: Michael Laverty (Ducati) +26.498 8: Scott Smart (Kawasaki) +26.949 9: Karl Harris (Yamaha) +31.189 10: Billy McConnell (Kawasaki) +31.221 17: Atsushi Watanabe (Rizla Suzuki) +32.694 Championship Standings (after seven of 12 rounds): 1: Shane Byrne (Ducati) 312 2: Cal Crutchlow (Honda) 213 3: Tom Sykes (Rizla Suzuki) 176 4: Leon Haslam (Honda) 174 5: Leon Camier (Ducati) 160 6: James Ellison (Honda) 150 7: Michael Rutter (Ducati) 141 8: Michael Laverty (Suzuki) 100 9: Simon Andrews (Yamaha) 90 10: Tristan Palmer (Honda) 64 15: Atsushi Watanabe (Rizla Suzuki) 33