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Speed-images · Joined: 09 Aug 2007 Posts: 81 Location: Cheshire

Tom Sykes impressed his new Rizla Suzuki team with a superb debut test at a cold and wintry Mallory Park today.

He lapped the 1.41-mile Leicestershire circuit consistently and dropped his lap times to an impressive 56.567secs. The test had to be cut short due to heavy rain and high winds hitting the intricate track.

“It has been really good today it's just a shame the weather came in on us,” said Sykes. “It was shaping up quite nicely. To be just half a second off the best times set by the BSBfield in today's conditions was brilliant. For my first test in the UK in November I couldn't have asked for more.”

Sykes has slotted well into the friendly team and was enjoying his first opportunity to spend time with them. He said: “I feel so at home with the team which is important to me, I like a good working atmosphere. My Rizla Suzuki has strong potential and I'm looking forward to the pre-season testing. I'm also looking forward to meeting my new team-mate, Atsushi Watanabe, he doesn't speak much English but he seems to have a good sense of humour. He has been with Suzuki a long time and he will bring a lot to the team and to me.”

Team Manager Jack Valentine was equally happy with the results and the team's progress as a whole. “I'm really pleased with the initial test,” he said. “We have a superb set-up from the end of season and Tom is happy with it. We have had to make minimal changes to the bike for him, simply adjusting the handle bars and things like that. Chassis wise it has been ok; the only change he wanted was slightly harder front forks.”

Sykes's consistently fast form impressed Valentine who knows there is a lot more to come from the 21-year-old. He said: “To be on a regular race tyre in cool conditions like we have had here today and to end up just 0.47secs off his fastest race lap time, really is pleasing. I'm over the moon."

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