Tom Sykes: "I have no words, I appreciate this gesture" from Rea

The final round of the Superbike World Championship was held yesterday at the Qatar Circuit, in Losail, under the floodlights of the Qatari track and with all eyes on the Kawasaki riders and Chaz Davies, with Jonathan Rea ultimately winning and crowned champion for the season, followed by Tom Sykes as runner-up and Davies third in the overall standings.

Rea clinched the championship in Saturday’s race, while Sykes secured the runner-up spot in Sunday’s race, when his teammate eased off his attack on Davies on the final lap to help Tom secure the runner-up position in this 2016 season.

Specifically, Rea got off to a very strong start chasing Davies, who was leading and seemed likely to be caught, but with one lap to go the champion realised he would not reach seventh place, and decided to work as a team and focus on Tom’s runner-up spot. He therefore reduced his pace and let number 66 cross the finish line in second place, which gave him second position in the World Championship.

Rea made this decision, as Kawasaki confirmed that it had not issued team orders for Jonathan to slow his pace and that it had been the rider’s own decision to make a sporting gesture, which Sykes greatly appreciated at the close of an exciting season in Qatar.

Sykes’ statements:

I have no words. Being a gentleman, I truly, genuinely appreciate this gesture. I will remember it until I am very old. We have lost championships in the past due to team orders from other manufacturers, so this is now a gift for us, second place in the Championship, a first and second for Kawasaki in the Championship. It has been an incredible season for Kawasaki!

Source | Worldsbk