After months of rumour and intrigue, it?s finally been confirmed that Tom Sykes, former World Superbike Champion, will be returning to BSB, to race a Ducati for Paul Bird Motorsport.

When we learnt that Leon Haslam was leaving WSBK behind and heading back to BSB, I thought there was a good chance that the 2022 BSB title might be heading the way of a Kawasaki rider (i.e. Haslam). But now, I?ve changed my mind. Because although Sykes never actually won the BSB championship, he went one better in 2013 when he won the WSBK Title.

In fact he?s had quite the stellar, 13-year WSBK career. From 349 races, he?s bagged 51 pole positions, 114 podiums and 34 wins. And now he?s bringing all that talent and experience back to Britain. You?d have to say he?d be a good bet for the title, especially on one of those PBM Ducatis.
Sykesy defiantly isn?t going to have it easy, on his MCE sponsored PMB Ducati Panigale, because he?ll be racing against three other British Superbike Champs (Leon Haslam, Josh Brookes and Tarran Mackenzie). And whilst Tom Sykes might have plenty of experience at World Superbike level, BSB is a different kettle of fish altogether. The tracks are all very different, as are the bikes thanks to completely different regulations. And then of course there?s the fact that Sykes has never actually raced a Ducati before, so there?s going to be a lot for him to learn.

But the lad is a class act on a motorcycle, so I don?t think it?ll take him long. He proved he ...