It’s a warm and sunny day at Brands Hatch. Shane ‘Shakey’ Byrne has already clinched the BSB Championship but second place is still up for grabs. The three guys fighting for the position are Leon Haslam, Cal Crutchlow and Tom Sykes.
Last year’s Rookie of the Year, Tom Sykes has agreed to meet me for an interview. He texted me to arrange where to find him. Instead of the motorhome I ended up at the Rizla support truck. This is the point that it took on a ‘Comedy of Errors’ feel. Tom realised I was lost and came to meet me on his Rizla paddock bike. Now I normally have no problems working my mobile phone, after my thirteen year old son had shown me how to use it. Today, however, it all went out of the window and I couldn’t get it working. Tom took over and managed to sort it out for me. I felt so old being shown by a twenty two year old how modern technology works. Then I realised I was nineteen when Tom was born so I am old enough to be his mother...here ends the comedy.
Unfortunately Tom was contractually unable to speak about his future with Yamaha in WSB but he has agreed to a follow up interview once it’s settled. Watch this space.
SEB: Congratulations Tom, last year’s BSB Rookie of the year and now you have given Rizla Suzuki their best season for some years.
TS: Thanks, it has been a good year. It was very hard at the beginning through testing and the first few rounds the bike was struggling. I have been very happy with the Rizla Suzuki and Jack Valentine. The guys have worked really hard and put so much effort making us stronger and able to fight for the points.
SEB: Brands was snowed off, so Thruxton was the first proper meeting, you came out strong leading then finishing sixth and eighth, what happened?
TS: We had a lot of very bad luck, I was leading at Thruxton and we had a problem with the tyres going off. I had to back it off, we had a couple of instances of coming together with Haslam and it set us back a bit. I think we could have been fighting for the championship or at least have second place by now. You know that’s racing but I kept my head and put it behind me. If you don’t it will work against you.
SEB: What did you think about the disqualification of Haslam and then yourself for the dangerous riding?
TS: No rider goes out intending to do things like that. You see a gap and if you don’t take it that could be enough to lose the race. I don’t think Leon Haslam or myself should lose points. It’s a racing incident and that’s where it should stay, on the track it’s all part of racing.
SEB: Other teams have said Airwaves Ducati have an unfair advantage, your bike has had a few technical faults, is that due to you trying to keep up with the Airwaves team?
TS: To be honest, we haven’t done anything different to the bike, most of the parts are standard. People have made claims mostly out of jealousy. It’s a shame as they are trying to take away the hard you’ve done.
SEB: So do you think the weight addition to the Airwaves team was right?
TS: The Ducatis came out of the crate so strong and we were all playing catch up. Shakey (Shayne Byrne) has ridden so well, he’s had a great season. I don’t think 10kg made any difference to the 1098, everyone should enjoy racing and let us get on with it.
SEB: At the WSB meet at Brands in August you had a great first race, then just before you raced, Craig Jones had his accident, which we found out the next day had tragically taken his life. How do you deal with having to race after a terrible incident like that to a friend?
TS: I was in my motorhome with Amie (Tom’s girlfriend), she was watching on TV. I didn’t see it, I was getting into my race leathers but I could see from Amie’s face it wasn’t good. I had to turn the TV off and think about my race, I had to go out and do my job. I thought “ I can’t be thinking about that”. It wasn’t until later I learned what had happened and that Craig had died. It was devastating, I got to know Craig as a friend and competitor. Racing lost a superb person and talented rider who could have gone all the way. I lost a very great friend and will never forget him.
SEB: Do you have a special diet as it must be very demanding racing a big GSXR around a race track at the speeds you do?
TS: I love exercising and keeping fit helps me to relax. I don’t particularly watch what I eat as I enjoy healthy food anyway. I sometimes treat myself but I don’t have to be careful. Christmas I fill my boots with turkey but I don’t seem to have problems with my food.
SEB: How do you relax on your days off?
TS: I love watching the world go by. I try and make the most of life. I drink coffee and just chill out.
SEB: Your long term girlfriend Amie is with you most of the time, will she be with you at WSB?
TS: Amie backs me 100%, she is always with me and we spend all our time together. She supports me completely and will be with me at WSB.
SEB: What will you be doing when your contract ends with Rizla, are you going straight into work or having a holiday?
TS: My contract ends with Rizla Suzuki at the end of October and I will be going straight into testing with Yamaha. I have had a couple of holidays during the past year, I came back and seemed to ride better. I will probably take some time off at Christmas, with lots of turkey and spending time with the family.
Unfortunately Tom did not have a great finish to his weekend after burning out his clutch on the start line in the first race. During the second race the Suzuki’s electrics seemed to fail and left Tom walking back to the pits.
I have no doubt about Tom’s determination and drive to win. What stood out by miles before, during and after the interview is he’s a really nice guy. He knows what he wants but is not the kind to sell his soul for it.
For the first time in a while we have the largest number of British riders in WSB. As we go to print, Brands Hatch (the largest meet of the WSB season) has not been confirmed by WSB Officials. Money seems to be the factor and the public lose out.
I want to go faster, I want to go faster..
