SBK, Roda: "We're pleased Tom has signed"

Guim Roda is the team manager of the factory Kawasaki Superbike team, a technical, professional and competent man who knows how to read situations and people, as well as lead the team that, for the last two years, has led the way in the production-derived series.

Now that the contract (already on the table for several months) has been signed by Tom Sykes, the Catalan manager has revealed some interesting details about his team, as well as a few prediction: “Our contract for Tom was ready a while ago, we always planned to keep him with us, because we're pleased with how he works, with his results and with all the experience he's gained with Kawasaki. lf we dominated last season, it was also thanks to what he'd done during the previous seasons”.

In effect, Tom has chosen to stay with the no. 1 team...

“We're pleased to be viewed like that, but the merit lies with the riders, they make the difference. We are in first, and second, place in the championship, we work hard to put them in the right conditions but the rest, opening the throttle, is down to them”.

Sykes, at a certain point, wanted to make a change, did many other riders come knocking?

“Well after these recent winning years, if no-one had approached it would have meant that we don't mean anything to anyone and don't know how to do our jobs… luckily several riders came with their CVs, some of them very interesting”.

Was Aleix Espargarò interesting?

“He was and he is. But there wasn't just him”.

Who else?

“We had two or three names, but it's pointless talking about them. Tom will stay with us for another two seasons and we're pleased about that. If he's signed, it means he's happy with us and, in extending our relationship, we know that he understands our work and this helps us as a team as we will prepare for coming seasons”.

On the subject of coming seasons, is it true that team Puccetti will get a factory Kawasaki for Melandri to ride?

“Yes it's true, they're working to have a bike that will be like our ZX10R”.

A factory bike like yours?

“Yes. In Superbike the regulation means that competitors are on the same level and the bikes on sale, or the kits, are the same for everyone, the difference is made with hundreds of tiny details making up the bike, the team's work methods, the experience and, I repeat, the rider himself: you win if you have the fastest rider, otherwise with a good bike you get some good results, but not winning ones".