PETALING JAYA: Reigning world champion Tom Sykes will be looking to maintain his momentum towards earning a second straight title in the FIM Superbike World Championships at the Sepang Circuit this weekend.
Sepang will host the sixth round of the championship which is the only Asian stop on the calendar.
Sykes, fresh from a double win in the previous round at his home track at Donington Park last month, will be at a disadvantage compared to his rivals – like Marco Melandri, Sylvain Guintoli and Toni Elias – as he has never raced competitively at Sepang.
The Kawasaki ace can only recall a three-day test session at the circuit back in 2011.
“That was all I’ve had here but it was a good three days. I experienced riding in the dry and then suddenly wet conditions in the evening ... so I pretty much remember how it is here,” said the 29-year-old, who did a demo run in Kuala Lumpur on Sunday to help promote the series.
Sykes is leading the championship with an impressive seven podium finishes out of 10 races this season and is confident he can finish strongly this weekend.
“The Grand Prix riders will surely have an advantage as they’ve raced here. But I have a good feeling about our bike. The ZX10R has been really performing well this season and I’ve got a good team around me,” he said.
His confidence also stems from the fact that he has always done well at new circuits on the calendar in the past two years.
Syles is at the top of the championship standings with 185 points – 26 points ahead of closest competitor Jonathan Rea (Pata Honda World Superbike).
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