Rizla Suzuki's Tom Sykes feels no pressure for home round at Croft

Rizla Suzuki's Tom Sykes is not yet feeling the pressure ahead of his home round at Croft next weekend (12/13/14 September) despite knowing that he is embroiled in a three-way tussle for second in the Bennetts British Superbike Championship standings.

Sykes told the BSB website: "Croft last year was a good round for me as that was where I got my first BSB podium and then I also got another third in the second race. The Rizla Suzuki team have a good track record around there and I am really looking forward to it as it is my local round. Croft is a decent length so back markers should not really play a part there and I just need to make sure I qualify strong and get a good start."

Following his two second place finishes at the last round at Cadwell Park Sykes was able to take advantage of Cal Crutchlow's disappointing weekend to move second in the standings. The HM Plant Honda team won both races at Croft last season but 'The Grinner' reckons it is impossible to predict who will stand on the top step of the podium.

"It is difficult to predict who is going to be strong there, because if you look at the podium last year it was three Hondas in both races, but that could have easily been Cal on the Rizla Suzuki making the podium in the first one," said Sykes. "There are no favourites and we just need to be as strong as we have been in the previous rounds. BSB races are really a free-for-all at the minute so any bike and rider can win."

"I want to go out and put in a good performance for me and the Rizla Suzuki team. If you look at where we were earlier in the season we were sixth and now we are second so my main focus is to keep doing what we have been. I am hoping that we can go there and add some more points to our tally as we are now looking to hold on to second in the championship. If we are at the top of game we want to taste the winners champagne again at Rizla Suzuki."

Sykes is confident that he has a strong base setting and is hoping that his extra track time as a wildcard at the World Superbike rounds will give him the extra boost to win for his legion of fans in Yorkshire.

Sykes added: "I am feeling confident ahead of Croft and I spoke to my crew chief PJ whilst I was away last week and he is confident that we have a decent base setting to start with when we turn up."

"I have a lot of friends and family coming to Croft to support me which is great and hopefully some others will come along to support me after our trip to Club Amadeus in Northallerton last year! I hope there might be a few supporters coming from there. I can't wait to get started."

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