Indonesia WorldSBK: Tom Sykes makes BMW return for final round

Tom Sykes will make his WorldSBK return at this weekend’s season finale in Indonesia after missing the last nine races due to concussion.
Tom Sykes, Catalunya WorldSBK, 18 September 2021
Tom Sykes, Catalunya WorldSBK, 18 September 2021
© Gold and Goose

Tom ꦜSykes has confirmed his return from cಌoncussion for this weekend’s final WorldSBK round of 2021 ahead of a likely switch to BSB in 2022.

Sykes sus🔴tained concussion during a Superpole race accident involving team-mate Michael Van Der Mark which cost him to miss rounds in Jerez,⭕ Portimao and San Juan. 

The 2013 world champion was then replaced by fellow BMW rider Eugene Laverty who will ride full-time🌺 for Bonovo BMW next year. 

With his future very much up in the air and every WorldSBK factory seat filled for next year, Sykes is hoping for a good showiꦅng in what's likely to be his swansong outing in the world championship.

Sykes said: "I’m very much looking forward to getting back on my B💎MW M 1000 RR. It has been a long time since I last⛎ raced and obviously we have a little bit of work to do to catch up. 

"But having said that, I have to say that the excitement of going to a totally new venue is quite✃ something, not only because Indonesia is a great part of the world. 

"Everybody 💦looks to🅘 be doing an incredible job on the new circuit of Mandalika. What a unique venue – to say the least. 

"On top of that, it is located on a beautif༺ul island so I am really looking forward to it. It is new for everybody and I h꧋ave to say that it is going to be a little bit of a way to finish the season, but that’s another story. 

"In ♕general, it’s a great place to finish the season, and hopefully we can finish it with some strong results to end 20ꦓ21." 

For team-mate Van Der Mark, the Dutchman is in a rich vein of form after taking a wet Superpole race win in Portimao, before claiming three to⭕p six finishes last time out in San Juan. 

Van Der Mark, who will be joined by🐓 Scott Redding at BMW after this weekend, is expecting a ౠ‘great weekend’ aboard the M 1000 RR machine.

"It’s fantastic to go to Indonesia. It’s nice to have a new circuit on the calen♉dar, especially in Asia. Iജ love to go there. It’s also incredible that it’s the last round of the season already," added the former Yamaha rider. 

"I cannot wait to try the Mandalika circuit ꦿbecause it looks really nice from wha💧t I have seen. 

"Getting to know a new track is not too difficult; 🦄it comes with doing ♏the laps. I think that it will be a great season finale. 

"We had some strong weekend෴s this year and obviously that’s the same way we want to finish the season."

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