Sykes remains positive after ‘losing a day of testing’ in Jerez off

Tom Sykes says he “couldn’t have asked for much more” following the Jerez World Superbike test with the new BMW Motorrad WorldSBK squad despite feeling he “lost a day of testing” due to a crash.

The 2013 World Superbike champion completed the Jerez test alongside team-mate Markus Reiterberger for the new-look Shaun Muir Racing-run factory BMW squad.

Following a shakedown debut test with the new S1000RR at Andalucia at the end of 2018, the team sharpened is testing programme on electronic settings and chassis setup at Jerez.

Both riders didn’t run transponders until the final hours on day two of the test, while Sykes spent large portions of day sidelined following an early crash at Turn 13 which the British rider shook off having been content with the progress made.

“So far we’ve had a really successful run of tests,” Sykes said. “At Andalucia we gained lot of valuable information so moving into day one at Jerez I couldn’t have asked for much more.

“Things were working smoothly and even the lap times we did were competitive considering it was the third day of the set up.

“Day two obviously we had a little setback and basically lost a day of testing, but I have to say it was minor detail considering the positives that we’ve taken from the project so far.

“The feedback from the new S1000RR has been really consistent and the whole team have been working in the right direction, so going Portimao now we try and continue to work in the same way.”

“Overall I am feeling positive with the way the test went, for Markus it was important that he completed his programme which he did, so this is a good step for him going into the second test,” team boss Muir added.

“Tom also made good progress on day one, unfortunately he had an early crash on day two which set him back in terms of his test schedule, but he will get to complete the rest of his schedule over at Portimao in just a few days’ time.”

The BMW squad will unveil its 2019 World Superbike livery at Portimao on Monday (January 28) before rounding out its European pre-season test schedule and heading to Phillip Island for the season opener next month.