ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team: Tom Sykes temporarily replacing the injured Michael van der Mark during testing and racing.

Tom Sykes will be making an interim return to the BMW Motorrad Motorsport WorldSBK family.

First appearance: Misano test end of the week.

Tom Sykes: “I will work hard to support BMW Motorrad Motorsport and the ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team as best as possible.”

Munich. Tom Sykes (GBR) is returning temporarily to the BMW Motorrad Motorsport WorldSBK family and to the ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team. The 37-year-old British rider will replace injured Michael van der Mark (NED) until further notice in the FIM Superbike World Championship (WorldSBK). The Dutch rider sustained a fractured left femur at Assen (NED).

From 2019 to 2021, Sykes was a BMW Motorrad factory rider in the BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team and was involved in the BMW Motorrad WorldSBK project from the word go. He also played a key role in the development of the BMW M 1000 RR. In his three seasons as a BMW Motorrad works rider, Sykes recorded a total of six podium finishes and three pole positions.

“Welcome back, Tom. We are delighted to welcome Tom temporarily back to our WorldSBK family,” said BMW Motorrad Motorsport Director Marc Bongers. “This opportunity arose as Tom became available. We believe that he will be a great substitute for as long as it takes for Michael to recover from his injury. We are in constant contact with Michael, and he is making good progress. However, there is no date set for his return. Tom is an outstanding rider and, as well as having plenty of WorldSBK experience, he has been familiar with our project and the team from the very start.”

“I’m looking forward to temporarily return to the BMW Motorrad Motorsport and to the ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team,” Sykes said. “I will work hard to support them as best as possible. I know them from the beginning on and was involved in developing the BMW M 1000 RR. Now I get the opportunity to contribute again to the development process. I’m looking forward to get on the new BMW M 1000 RR at the Misano test. At the same time, I wish my former team-mate Mickey all the best on his way to recovery while I give everything to stand in for him in the best possible way.”

More, from a press release issued by Kawasaki:

Tom Sykes moves on from Kawasaki Puccetti Racing

WorldSBK Champion in 2013 riding a Kawasaki Ninja ZX-10R, Tom Sykes, has concluded his term riding for the Kawasaki Puccetti Racing team and the task of working to refine their technical and machine set up package.

During his tenure as the team’s WorldSBK entry for the early part of the 2023 season, Yorkshireman Sykes worked closely with technicians and engineers of the Italian team passing on valuable feedback and machine set up advice which they will use to mount a future attack on WorldSBK honours.

Team Principle, Manuel Puccetti, expressed his thanks to Sykes saying; “My team staff and sponsors were honoured to have Tom join us to start the season. As a former world champion and multiple race winner, his insight has really taken our understanding of the Ninja to the next level. Now he leaves us, and we thank him for all his knowledge and for sharing so much information.”

Tom Sykes concluded; “I had no hesitation in joining the Kawasaki Puccetti team and helping them with the refinement of their Ninja ZX-10RR package. I hope all the data I helped them accumulate over testing and the first races of the season pushes them closer to winning races in the future”.