Luck is on Sykes’ side

After a few tough years as a WSB also-ran, the Leamington rider has been nothing short of a revelation in 2012 - pole position at Donington being his fourth from five attempts.

Sykes looked well placed to turn that pole into his second win of the year in race one but having led early on, was forced to settle for third.

But if the Kawasaki Racing Team rider needed a little bit of luck to hold off Jonathan Rea to take third in the opener, the Northern Irishmen was no doubt the toast of the Sykes motorhome after the second.

In barging his way through to take the second race win, Rea had a hand in both Leon Haslam and Marco Melandri taking a tumble, which bumped Sykes up to third.

“I was a little too far back to see what happened,” said Sykes. “But when I saw two bikes go down, I might not be the sharpest tool in the shed but five minus two equals podium.”