Qualifying win for Sykes in fine start at Silverstone

Pole king Tom Sykes got his home round of the eni FIM Superbike World Championship off to the perfect start by topping the first qualifying session at Silverstone.

The Kawasaki rider, who has started from the front of the grid at seven of the nine rounds so far, set a time of 2mins 6.115secs on a track that was drying after morning rain.

That lap from the Huddersfield rider ensured that he and second placed Carlos Checa were the only title contenders to end the day inside the top ten.