Cycle News is a weekly magazine that covers all aspects of motorcycling including Supercross, Motocross and MotoGP as well as new motorcycles
Issue link: https://magazine.cyclenews.com/i/484201
IN THE WIND P38 SYKES' STRUGGLES K awasaki's Tom Sykes has not been enjoying the same kind of success so far in the new- look and feel World Superbike Championship. It appears that the point and shoot style he has per- fected in the era of 230 bhp plus machinery does not work so well now that there is something like 15 bhp less to play with at the very top end. Add to that, the lesser degree of chassis freedom possi- bly also affects his riding style more than most. "Still at the moment I am not able to put the bike where I want it and do exactly what I want with it," said Sykes. "The way I have been riding the Ninja ZX-10R for the past three seasons or more… I almost need to try and forget that. We just have not found the optimum set-up for me yet. There is still a lot of margin to improve the bike and get it a lot more suited to myself, but these things take a little bit of time. I almost feel like it is a big compro- mise at the moment. It is difficult to accept, but it is something that we need to try and work with." Sykes thought that his new teammate, Jonathan Rea, did not have any advantage because he had come from Honda and not ridden the previous full- power Kawasaki. "His [Jonathan Rea] riding style is quite differ- ent from mine and at the moment his riding style is working very well with the character of the ZX-10R under the new regulations," Sykes said. "That is the biggest difference. I can still ride a motorcycle we are just having to adapt it more for myself." Gordon Ritchie PHOTOGRAPHY BY GOLD & GOOSE The former World champ is struggling to gel with his Kawasaki under the new rules. TEXAS NATIONAL ENDURO CANCELLED E xcessive rain and flooding forced the cancellation of the North Texas National Enduro in Gainesville, Texas, that was scheduled for March 22. The event was supposed to have been round three of the 2015 Kenda AMA National Enduro Series but was officially cancelled two days before the start after heavy rains moved through the area. "The parking area is flooded and some trails have become rivers," the organizers said. "We realize that this is a major inconvenience and additional cost to all of the riders, families, vendors, teams and club members." The race will not be rescheduled. "We also have decided that it would be in everyone's best interest if we do not try to interrupt other schedules by trying to find another date to reschedule the event so the 2015 championship will be reduced to nine rounds." Heavy rain and flood forced the cancellation of the North Texas National Enduro.