2013 Superbike World Champion Tom Sykes will return to the Bennetts British Superbike Championship grid at Donington Park next weekend (May 16/17/18) as he joins Sencat IN Competition by Swan Racing Aprilia, deputising for Lewis Rollo who is sidelined through injury.
Sykes last raced in Bennetts BSB when he returned to the championship in 2022, when he claimed a race win at the Donington Park round. The Huddersfield contender has had an extensive career, representing a variety of different manufacturers and celebrated WSBK title success in 2013, missing out on the title in 2012 by just half a point.
Scotland’s Rollo is continuing his rehabilitation since his crash during testing at Circuito de Navarra and has been supporting the team from the sidelines. Sykes will now continue working on the development of the Aprilia RSV4 as he joins the team, to reunite with his former crew chief from his early BSB career, ‘PJ’ [Pete Jennings].
Sykes said: “I’m excited about the prospect of coming back to BSB. I got a call from my old mate Pete Jennings, and I knew this would be a great opportunity to get back on track. It will be a great experience with no pressure and assist the team in developing their Aprilia RSV4 Superbike.
“It’s a great chance to help each other, I absolutely love Donington and never ridden an Aprilia before, so it is something I am very much looking forward to. Chris Barnes and Ian Newton have already made me feel very welcome and it will be good to be back at a track that is fun to race on a Superbike.”
Chris Barnes, Team Owner, commented: “Obviously we are gutted Lewis is still injured but we wish him well with his recovery and hope to see him back out there as soon as he is fit and it is possible to ride again.
“To have Tom riding our bike is fantastic, he has a knowledge and world of experience that he can bring and share with us. He’s a former World Champion and very popular with the fans. It will be a great chance for us; we are putting zero pressure on him and very much using him as a test rider to get the bike where it needs to be.”